Headdress "ngontang" with three faces
Gabon, Fang / Tsogho
sold
EUR 500
Provenance
René Rickli, Olten, SwitzerlandSize
H: 28,5 cm
H: 11.2 inch
Description
wood, kaolin, missing parts, cracks, insect caused damage
“Ngontang” literally means “young white woman”. Colouring with white kaolin clay is said to be based on the Fang’s belief that supernatural powers are inherent in European and American missionaries, and women in particular. “Ngontang” headdresses are said to have been used specifically to detect witches.