Description
A very beautiful and ancient reliquary figure, called Mbulu Ngulu among the Kota and Obamba of the North, but also called Bwété among the Shamaye, had an influence on this style. Indeed, this reliquary guardian figure is clearly part of a rare typology, and even stands out as one of the most beautiful specimens that we are rediscovering today from group nineteen according to the classification of Alain and Françoise Chaffin in their essential work: L'Art Kota, Les figures de reliquaires. This large, well-balanced reliquary figure offers a face with an intense gaze and a grimacing mouth with visible engraved teeth, which is placed in a subtly concave volume, combining sophisticated copper lamellar work both horizontally and in rays, and a large central axis in the form of a cross, where engraved motifs contribute to the singularity of this corpus and to the powerful expression of this rare work. For a comparable work from the same corpus, see : L'Art Kota, les figures de reliquaires, Ed. A. and F. Chaffin, p. 243, exhibit 140, and p. 239 for category 19 of Chaffin's classification. Kota / Obamba, Gabon Wood, copper and others, alloys, visible erosions, accidents and missing parts, beautiful and old patina of use. H. 60,5 cm Provenance : Dr. R. Taburet, then passed down through descent. Exhibition: Regard sur l'Art Tribal, Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne de Brest, from February 12 to March 31, 1999.
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A very beautiful and ancient reliquary figure, called Mbulu Ngulu among the Kota and Obamba of the North, but also called Bwété among the Shamaye, had an influence on this style. Indeed, this reliquary guardian figure is clearly part of a rare typology, and even stands out as one of the most beautiful specimens that we are rediscovering today from group nineteen according to the classification of Alain and Françoise Chaffin in their essential work: L'Art Kota, Les figures de reliquaires. This large, well-balanced reliquary figure offers a face with an intense gaze and a grimacing mouth with visible engraved teeth, which is placed in a subtly concave volume, combining sophisticated copper lamellar work both horizontally and in rays, and a large central axis in the form of a cross, where engraved motifs contribute to the singularity of this corpus and to the powerful expression of this rare work. For a comparable work from the same corpus, see : L'Art Kota, les figures de reliquaires, Ed. A. and F. Chaffin, p. 243, exhibit 140, and p. 239 for category 19 of Chaffin's classification. Kota / Obamba, Gabon Wood, copper and others, alloys, visible erosions, accidents and missing parts, beautiful and old patina of use. H. 60,5 cm Provenance : Dr. R. Taburet, then passed down through descent. Exhibition: Regard sur l'Art Tribal, Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne de Brest, from February 12 to March 31, 1999.
