Mahongwe Figure, Gabon, Central African Tribal Art for Sale

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Mahongwe Figure, Gabon, Central African Tribal Art For Sale

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Mahongwe Figure, Gabon, Central African Tribal Art:
$124.52

Item: MahongweFigure.Specifications: 26x 10.5 x 9.5 cmOrigin:Gabon (see ethnographic notes below)Medium:Timber Carving & Pigment.

ShippingFor international shipping, we offerRegistered Airmail (6 to ten days)For domestic shipping, we use Ordinary Parcel Post or Express Post both with Tracking. Purchases will be shipped no later than one business day following receipt of payment. We can provide quotes for insurance, please ask for a quote at time of purchase. For international customers who want a tracking service, we offer International Express with tracking, please request a quote prior to purchase.Returns
African Originssells tribal objects which have been used, in some cases, for many, manyyears. We ask that you carefully study the photographs relating to each object prior to committing to purchase. In the event that you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason, we accept refunds within seven days of purchase. We offer a full refund or a credit note valid for twelve months, which ever you prefer. Return postage is paid by the purchaser in all cases.
About African OriginsAfrican Origins has been tradingonline since 2007. We are constantly on the look out for interesting objects to add to our collection.Our tribal collection is sourced from tribal dealers,sale houses, private collections the world over and also collected in the field.. Where possible, we will specify the provenance of important individual tribal objects.response

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The Mahongwe constitute the northern branch of the Kotapeoples. They live in the extreme northeast of Gabon near the Republic of theCongo border. Numbering between 3,000 and 5,000 individuals, they have longremained apart owing to their obstinate resistance to the penetration of Frenchadministration.

The Mahongwe practice an ancestor cult (bwiti or bwete)that was at the center of a system of beliefs and rites and ancestor worshipformed the core of the family group’s religious and social life. Fearful of thedeceased the Mahongwe showed particular devotion to relics of importantancestors of the lineage, guarantors for the protection and survival of thegroup. At the death of a chief, the initiates would take from the body of thedeceased various relics, which then decorated with metal and rubbed withpowders of multiple magical powers. These relics, augmented by some “charms”and other power substances, were kept in woven rattan baskets upon which werearranged reliquary figures in wood plated with thin copper or brass strips,plates of wire. It was believed that thesculls and bones of important men retained their power after death. EveryMahongwe clan has a reliquary kept in the back of the chief’s hut.

These relics were expected to protect and benefit thefamilies that owned them. At the time of initiation in the reliquary cult, theclans would meet to perform communal rituals; each clan’s chief would danceholding the reliquary. Some reliquaries featured a large figure representingthe lineage founder along with some smaller figures representing hissuccessors. Mahongwe reliquary figuresconsist of three distinct sections: the oval, concave face with projecting topknot, the cylindrical neck, and an openwork base. The mouth is missing. Theheads of these remarkable abstractions are large and do not have upper or sidepieces. The base is of lozenge form. They are considered dangerous to handlebecause of their role in former funeral rites, which have not been practicedfor over sixty years. Mahongwe masks are rare.