Null Louis Perrois, La statuaire fan Gabon, ORSTOM, Paris, 1972

Soiling, used…

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Louis Perrois, La statuaire fan Gabon, ORSTOM, Paris, 1972 Soiling, used condition

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Louis Perrois, La statuaire fan Gabon, ORSTOM, Paris, 1972 Soiling, used condition

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Estim. 15 - 30 EUR

Tsogho, les icônes du Bwiti : Statuaire du Gabon, des rives de la Ngounié au massif du Chaillu - The art of the peoples living in south-central Gabon, between the Ngounié River and the Chaillu massif, has not received the recognition accorded to that of the Fang or the Kota. Difficult access to this mountainous and landlocked region, while preserving the customs and rituals of the many ethnic groups living there, has delayed recognition of their material culture. Yet Tsogho and Apindji are at the origin of Bwiti and its cult objects. This important initiation rite, guarantor of social order, has found a considerable echo throughout the country and even beyond its borders. This book, devoted to the art of the Tsogho and its neighbors the Sango, Vuvi, Apindji and Eshira, aims to bring together the best specimens of their anthropomorphic statuary, while observing its evolution over the course of history, with the ambition of giving this "style center" the place it deserves in the history of African arts. - Gourcuff Gradenigo - 2016

Estim. 20 000 - 30 000 EUR

Statue, Fang, Gabon Wood Height: 36.5 cm Provenance: Charles Ratton, Paris Charles Ratton, Paris André Derain Collection, Paris Sidney Burney, London Arthur S Rothenberg Collection, New York Sotheby's, New York, January 20, 1982, no. 242 Douglas Drake, New York Private collection, Hawaii Bonham's, New York, November 12, 2014, no. 299 Seymour Lazar Collection, Palm Springs Transmitted by descent Lempertz, Brussels, February 1, 2023, no. 30 Collection Richard Vinatier (inv. no. 546) This archaic example of Southern Fang statuary reveals the individuality of its creator in the singularity of its sculptural expression. Intended to symbolically evoke the ancestors - in this case, probably a lineage chief - this eyema byeri effigy had the function of protecting the relics of the clan's important deceased (cf. Perrois, Fang, 2006, p. 25). It is distinguished by the particularly expressive workmanship of the head. The impact of the "heart-shaped" face, with its features narrowed beneath the high, rounded forehead, is accentuated by the size of the eyes, once signified by circular copper plates, and whose presence remains in the traces of the resin used to fix them. This anatomical feature is relevant to a number of early Fang works, notably from the Okak/Mekè/Betsi region (Rio Muni and North Gabon). This feature is probably related to the symbolism of the ancestor statues' eyes, endowed with magical clairvoyance. The head also stands out for its interpretation of the axial-crested headdress (nlo-ô-ngo), whose sculptor has singularly amplified the shape of the side buns, to serve as a case for the face. Combining antiquity, originality of composition and subtle balance of volumes, this statue illustrates the individuality and mastery of a Fang artist, whose talent was at the service of community survival.

Estim. 50 000 - 70 000 EUR

Statue, Fang, Gabon Wood Height: 45 cm Provenance: René Marteaux Collection, Belgium Transmitted by descent Sotheby's, London, March 26, 1990, no. 128 Private American collection Richard Vinatier Collection, Avignon (inv. no. 429) Text by Mr Louis Perrois and Mr Bernard De Grunne Fang, one of the mythical jewels of tribal art, the statuary of equatorial Africa, technical skill and a sense of the balanced arrangement of forms, seem to be the prerogative of a few groups and not of the entire Pahouin bloc. They represented the first ancestor of the family line, whose relics are preserved for worship. The Nzaman, like the Betsi from the Ogoué and Okano valleys, are Fang tribes from southern Gabon, very close to the Waï style. The disappearance of the Fang style from the 1930/1940 period, partly due to revealed religions, annihilated the ancestral beliefs of the Fangs and at the same time destroyed all ancient ritual objects, particularly ancestor statues. The Byeri reliquary, a reliquary chest containing bones and skulls, was discreetly installed behind the bed of the head of the family and the siblings. On top of this reliquary, a full-length statue, male or female, but sometimes also a wooden head, protected the relics of the ancestral lineage. The reliquary is a figure that establishes identity and embodies siblings. In short, it is the material representation of an egregore. In esotericism, it's a force that needs to be constantly fed by its members through established and defined rituals; in this sense, it's a form of collective unconscious. Be that as it may, the reliquary, the receptacle of relics - often of a highly deserving family member - embodies the clan itself and maintains, guarantees its unity. The skulls were those of men in the prime of life, not old men, and were considered the life force of individuals. The skulls were then shown to initiates, and the father of the family invoked the ancestors to bring luck, wealth and fertility to the women. Beautiful female reliquary figure with deep interiorization, squinted eyes, straight nose, heart-shaped figure with rounded forehead. Beautiful headdress with three shells and forehead strap, featuring small tapestry nails delimiting each shell and two holes for attaching Touraco feathers, the ears echoing the shape of the shells. The mouth is prognathic, with a few lip plugs. The long, slender body, with separate breasts, is beautifully shaped, with angled arms and hands returning to the belly above the prominent navel, and the trunk bulging out at the navel. Powerful legs, with chunky thighs in a seated position and marked feet, with a hole in the seat for a wooden reliquary. The back features a delineation of the shoulder blades as well as the spine, the whole showing great serenity and elegance. Deep black patina, shiny in places, showing very early use. *(This text takes up some of the writings of Mr. Louis Perrois in his exceptional book "Fan Gabon, ORSTOM 1972", starting with paragraph 11, "Southern fan styles").

Starting price 10 EUR

GABON Kwele style mask, modern work Dimensions: 17 x 21 cm Collection by appointment only, on July 4th at Paris XVe (metro Sèvres-Lecourbe or Pasteur).

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