Head sculpture of a "bieri" - reliquary · Gabon, Fang · ID: 3032231
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Description
wood, rich black patina, regular facial features: a concave vaulted heart-shaped facial plane with big metal eyes, the hairline confined by a diadem-like headband, grooved coiffure with middle ridge, rising from a columnar neck with several drilled holes for attachment at the base, traces of weathering at the same place, slightly dam., minor missing parts, stepped pedestal;
the Fang honour their ancestors by keeping their skulls in special bark boxes which are decorated with a head or a figure. The whole object is called “bieri”. According to Tessmann (1913) originally only heads were affixed to bieris, the figures are a later version. In any case, head or figure should be a rememberance of the person faded away and it has a guardian function as well, it should keep away non-initiated persons. Bieris are regularly spread with oil or blood and are provided with food.