AFRICAN OSSEYBA OR RELIQUARY FIGURE BRASS KOTA / MAHONGWE GABON CENTRAL AFRICA

Description

GJPaw
Auctions is pleased to offer a stunning
Osseyba or Reliquary figure, from the Kota / Mahongwe People, Gabon, Central Africa. The
Bakota
(or Kota) are a
Bantu
ethnic group,
comprising numerous sub-groups, including the
Mahongwe
from the northeastern region of
Gabon.
Ancestor worship forms the core of religious and social life throughout much of eastern Gabon, and most of the art forms are connected to the veneration and storage of ancestral remains.
The
Mahongwe showed particular devotion to the relics of important ancestors, and practiced an ancestor cult known as
bwiti
or
bwete
, which was centered around ancestors who are believed to wield power in the afterlife as they had as living leaders of the community. Wooden sculptures covered with sheets of copper and brass, known as reliquary or guardian figures, were surmounted to baskets made of tree bark or fiber containing the remains ancestors.
These highly distinctive narrow metal strip-covered wooden sculptures were known to the Mahongwe as 'osseyba', and the Europeans called them "naja" because they resembled the head of an erect cobra. The baskets were placed in village temples and generally consisted of two figures, one larger than the other. The larger represented the founder of the lineage and the smaller a descendant.
This highly characteristic example
measures 11.0 inches in width by 3.5 inch in depth by 25.5 inches in height (27.9 cm by 8.89 cm by
64.7
cm), including the specially designed, hand-made, iron museum display stand. It is in very good condition, including rubbing and minor scratches. It dates probably to the mid-20th century. A superb example of a very distinctive style of African sculptural art, it would make a fine collector’s piece and is guaranteed authentic.
GJPaw
Auctions has been in the Art business for over 25 years and is now expanding its operation to eBay.  Our goal is to bring the same experience and excitement of collecting that we have been delivering in-person to collectors across the globe at
Primitive
in Chicago.  Every object we sell online has been carefully hand-selected with special attention to detail, quality, and significance. We ship worldwide. Add
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A1500-323