Head sculpture ·  Gabon, Fang / Tshogo · ID: 3034569

Description

grained wood, blotched brown patina, encrusted in some areas, min. traces of red and white pigment, brows and nose forming a strictly T-shaped zone, eyes and mouth incised, originally accentuated with black paint, slightly dam., missing parts (nose tip), rep. (cheek right hand side), hairline cracks, acrylic socle;
presumably coming from a figural post. On Leti and its neighbouring islands in Southeast Moluccas, seated images called “iene” were carved shortly after a person’s death to serve as a receptacle for the departed spirit. Honoured with offerings of food and prayers, “iene”, like “korwar”, bridged the spirit world and the realm of the living.

The object Head sculpture with the object ID 3034569 was last part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction at March 9, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 4.

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Comparing literature

Capistrano-Baker, Florina, Art of Island Southeast Asia, New York 1994, p. 180 ff.