African Byeri reliquary box & guardian figure, Fang People, Gabon, 56cm/22inch

Description

code: ZS
a wonderful ensemble of a carved African wooden figure and bark box with lid, a
Byeri reliquary box
with
Guardian
from the
Fang
People, in Gabon or Cameroon, Africa
made of bark, wood, twined fibres and nails
the Fang preserved ancestral skulls and bones in cylindrical containers with wooden figures, with the feet dangling over the edge, symbolically evoking the ancestor and guarding the relics.
the projecting stem of the figure and fixed knee pose, allow the figure to be set atop the cylindrical, hollow container
this guardian figure is presenting an offertory cup, supported by both hands
this figure has
metal discs
set in place for the eyes, a pronounced navel with
metal bands
and
a nail
,
carved ankle rings,
metal bracelets
,
a necklace of white
beads
,
on the front top of the high coiffure
3 nails
, at the back where the hair splits in two, again
4 nails
,
on the median edge on the top of the coiffure 4 or 5 nails are missing
condition:
the wood of the figure has some old damages and old holes (see the 10 pictures), but is firm and solid, it has a smooth feel and authentic patina
the box
is very solid, the bottom has some old termite traces, it seems complete to us, only the long twain is half loose
age unknown
weight: circa 1930 gram
total height: circa  56 cm / 22 inch
the height of the figure, including stem: circa 38 cm / 15 inch
we are not experts
on the subject of tribal art, we have done some research, trying to attribute this statue to a land, country, tribe or people, to the best we could -
do judge for yourself the tribal affilation and the correct age -
we are selling this item "as is" and we will not accept returns
if the buyer finds that we are wrong concerning these matters.
free world wide shipping:
- this means the shipping costs are included with the sale price
- you will be ordering registrated shipment from The Netherlands, EU
- >2kg
we are:
delta 98 den haag
The Hague, The Netherlands, EU
registrated at
Chambers of Commerce in The Netherlands / KvK Haaglanden: file 27133335