A rare and beautiful bwiti reliquary whose guardian figure, - Lot 53

A rare and beautiful bwiti reliquary whose guardian figure, sculpted in feet, appears in bust form, with detached arms resting alongside the body. The reliquary's guardian figure, always female, is eloquently polychromed, combining the three fundamental colors of white, red and blue to symbolize life, and is enthroned over the composite ritual bundle containing the relics. Red expresses stupor, power and anger, as well as blood, flesh and fire, but also modesty and maturity. The highly expressive face with mirrored eyes is adorned with a typically Gabonese braided hairstyle called mitooki. For another very similar reliquary figure, see Les lumbu, un art sacré, Grand-Dufay, 2016, p.154, no. 101. Lumbu, Gabon Wood, plant fibers, glass, pigments, resin, textile, chain, iron axe blade and other elements, minor old missing parts, very good preservation of pigments and beautiful patina from use. Height: 24.5cm Provenance: Jacques Viault Collection, acquired in Mayumba