KOTA RELIQUARY FROM THE SOUTH, GABON Wood, two-tone yellow and red brass, iron H. 58 cm Provenance : - René and Mercedes Lavigne Collection, Geneva - Collection Guy Piazzini (1930-2018), Paris - Collection Jacques Dubanton Exhibition : - Galerie Dutko-Piazzini, Paris, 1992 Publications : - Louis Perrois, Arts du Gabon, Les Arts plastiques du Bassin de l'Ogoué, Arts d'Afrique Noire, Paris, 1979, fig 151, p. 160 - La collection Lavigne", Arts d'Afrique No. 7, Autumn 1973, p. 12 This reliquary from the Lavigne collection shows both its great elegance through the respective proportions of the face and the body and its great finesse of execution, notably in its concave part dominated by this red metal cut into fine strips. The very present and slightly bulging eyes are held by an iron clasp, they overhang this "tear" or iron scarification. Uncommon in this type of reliquary, a small "bun" dominates the upper crescent. The design of the "diamond", very much in relief, at the back of the reliquary evokes a long face in abstract. The beautiful untouched material on the metal parts and the deep black patina on the back of the reliquary, reddish and smooth near the base indicate its degree of age and use. Mercedes and René Lavigne were well-known collectors in Geneva for their collection of modern paintings, which they started with, and then for their collection of African art when they were attracted by the links that could be established between their two collections. They were particularly fond of the Baga, the Dogon and Gabon with several masks and notably four superb Kota reliquaries, including this Southern Kota reliquary of great stylistic quality.