Head sculpture

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Description

wood, brown patina, remains of encrusted blackish mass, rising from an elongated neck, a narrow face with closed eyes and open mouth (reminding of a deceased person), slightly dam., cracks, traces of insect caused damage, ears with drilled holes, one broken, the other one presumably rep., socle;
presumably coming from a reliquary ensemble. Like most ethnic groups in Gabon, the Tsogho venerate their ancestors by focusing on the remains of them, which are kept in a basket and surmounted by a half figure or a head as guardian of the reliquaries, a practice which is also common with the neighbouring Sango to the east.

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Littérature comparée

Lagamma, Alisa (ed.), Eternal Ancestors, New York 2007, ill. 99 f.

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