Reliquary Figure of the Kota-Obamba, "Mbulu Ngulu"

Gabon, 50 cm (1' 8")

Reliquary figures of the Kota-Obamba rank among the most significant examples of traditional Gabonese art. Serving as guardians within the ancestral cult, they were intended to protect the relics of revered ancestors while simultaneously embodying their spiritual presence.
The present figure belongs to a rare group distinguished by eyes fashioned from iron. These exceptional examples are known among specialists as "Blind Kotas". This unusual feature sets them apart from the far more commonly encountered reliquary figures with differently fashioned eyes.
Particularly remarkable is the elaborate treatment of the upper and lateral sections, which are covered with brass sheeting and richly embellished with finely executed ornaments and decoratively arranged brass nails. Two peg-shaped projections at the top and a further pair at the lower sides lend the figure additional sculptural definition and emphasise its characteristic silhouette.
The reverse displays distinct traces of age-related insect damage, bearing witness to the long history of this ritual object.
The unusual treatment of the iron eyes, the skilfully executed metal covering, and the meticulously worked ornamentation make this reliquary figure a rare and impressive example of traditional Kota-Obamba art.

Provenance: Patrick Jodry, France; Gerhard F. Vesely, Austria.

Estimate: € 6000 - 8000