Reliquary bust "mbumba bwiti" · Gabon, Tsogho · ID: 3048245
sold
EUR 4,000
Provenance
French Private CollectionSize
H: 50 cm
H: 19.7 inch
Description
light wood, metal, animal skin,
These busts were used in rituals of the “bwiti” initiation society as part of the ancestor cult “mombe”.
They were placed in baskets containing human bones and magical substances and were supposed to guard the precious contents. They were kept in the men’s house together with ancestor figures “gheonga”.
Notices
This object is subject to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Export documents are required for export (subjected to a fee).