Reliquary Byeri Figure – Wood – Fang – Gabon

Great Fang double-faced reliquary figure from Gabon.
The Fang ethnic group number about 900,000 and constitute a vast village communities, established in a large zone of Atlantic equatorial Africa: consisting Cameroon, continental Equatorial Guinea and northern part of Gabon, on the right bank of the Ogowe River. Fang people used masks and statues/figures in their secret societies, the “bieri”, or ancestor sculpture. They celebrate this figure when a new crop was planted or before fishing or going hunting. The Fang bieri has the proportion of a new born, this emphasizing the groups’ continuity with its ancestor and with (three faces); the three classes of society: the “not-yet-born”, the living and the dead. This stunning fine figure shown here was also used for the initiation of young males into their secret societies as members.

Provenance: ex Dutch private collection.

Object: Byeri Figure
Ethnic group/ culture: Fang
Region/ country: Gabon
Material: Wood
Period: Mid 20th century
Condition: Good
Dimensions: 25x8x6 cm
Weight: 220 g