Showrooms

Exceptional Kota Reliquary collected in situ in 1925, Gabon

Description
This exceptional Kota reliquary comes from the Mahogwe tribe who lives on the river Ogooué in Gabon. The Mahogwe are part of the Kota ethnic group based in the North-East of Gabon. This sculpture is exceptional because it was collected in situ by a colonial administrator named Fernand Oliveda who was a high ranking colonial administrator based between 1888 and 1930 in Madagascar, Senegal and Congo. In 1925 he was Chief of Secretariat for the Middle Congo Governor General (the then name for Gabon). It is very rare to be able to have clear traceability for such an item as his African art collection was kept in the family since then!

It is made of wood, brass and copper.. Thin strips of brass/copper are envelopping the wood core. On the back a thin decorated plate of brass/copper covers the wood.
A bespoke modern iron stand is provided to desplay the sculpture.