Consulter la cote et le prix de Fang Bellows, 2014.0
Description : Fang Bellows
Gabon
The Fang people are a Central African ethnic group found in Equatorial Guinea as well as in northern and southern Cameroon.
The traditional religion of the Fang centered around ancestors, who are believed to wield power in the afterlife as they did as living leaders of the community. The skulls and long bones of these men were believed to retain power and to have control over the wellbeing of the family. Usually the relics were kept hidden away from the uninitiated and women. Wooden sculptures, known as reliquary guardian figures, were attached to the boxes containing the bones. Some believe that the figures are an abstract portrait of the deceased individual, while others argue that they serve to protect the spirit of the deceased from evil.
Fang statuary can be classified into three main groups: heads on long necks, half figures and full figures, standing or seated. Carved with great simplicity, at the same time they exhibit a high degree of sophistication in the coordination of bulbous forms.
These bellows were used by blacksmiths to keep the fire burning. These beautiful bellows show two nozzles tied to the leather cover of the airbags (?). The Fang used to decorate their everyday tools with stylized heads. The face of the figure is very expressive with two large pupils. The pronounced forehead is decorated with incisions.
Compare: Sotheby’s, “The Collection of Allan Stone: African, Pre-Columbian & American Indian Art – Volume Two”, New York, May 16, 2014, Lot 46.
H: 47 cm (approx. 1’ 7”)
Estimated age: End of the 19th century or early 20th century
Provenance: Galleria d’Arte Toni De Rossi, Verona, purchased in 1996
Prix: 0.00 USDC'est GRATUIT! créez un compte pour lire l'info
Estimations(basse-haute) : 15000 EUR-20000 EURC'est GRATUIT! créez un compte pour lire l'info