This is a beautiful Fang Reliquary Three Faces Guardian Figure from Gabon. The Fang organized their lives around the family lineage and venerated their lineage's ancestors at family shrines where memorials or reliquary boxes known as byeri. During its travels, each Fang family brought a bark box containing the skulls of its ancestors. A carved head or figure such as this one was mounted on top of each reliquary box guarded the sacred contents.
The earliest reliquary guardians were heads, but by the beginning of the 20th century busts and full figures were also being made. Bieri figures exemplify the qualities the Fang admire in people--tranquillity, vitality, and the ability to hold opposites in balance. A beautiful Fang sculpture that would be a beautiful adornment to your home or collection.
Materials: Wood
- Height: 37 inches
- Width: 8 inches
- Depth: 6 inches
