Reliquary Figure – Wood – Ambete – Gabon

The MBÉTÉ of the upper basin of the Ogooué and its affluents, crafted figurines with very cavities that they used as reliquaries.
This type of statue has a cavity which was used for magical substances, or relics of ancestors.
These relics were kept inside the hollow torso of wooden statues.
When they were not used, the statues of this type were hung in special shelters.
Their use appeared to be of an initiatory order.
At a ceremony, they could be taken out of the shelters and placed in front of the candidates of the Ngoye, to present the names and history of the relics.

Nice aged patina covered with kaolin and traces of wear and tear. Provenance: former private collection from the Netherlands. Including custom made stand.