4
5
Fang sculpture from Gabon has always been
amongst the most admired genres of African art.
In the early 1900s, the aesthetics of traditional
African sculpture became a powerful influence
among European artists such as Jacob Epstein,
Pablo Picasso or Henri Matisse who formed an
avant-garde in the development of modern art.
The formal qualities of many types of African
art, notably Fang figures such as the one seen
here, were echoed in modern works.
Fang Byeri reliquary figures embodied the
qualities that the Fang admired most in people
namely, tranquility, vitality and the ability to hold
opposites in balance.
According to Louis Perrois, Fang people believed that an individual's vital force was located
in the skull. Hence, they venerated the skulls of their ancestors. The relics were placed in
bark containers. A carved head or figure was secured to the lid of the reliquary and served
as a guardian. It was a symbolic evocation of the ancestor, as well as a source of magical
protection for the relics.
This Byeri figure conveys an intense sense of power and sacrality. The standing ancestor is
holding a vessel against the abdomen. His large, expressive face is redolent of mystery. The
muscular torso, arms and backbone emphasize the strength of the ancestor. With a dark,
oozing patina of oil or resin, this figure is a magnificent example of the Meke-Betsi art of
Northern Gabon.
The wood stand bears the stamp of famous wood artist Kichizô Inagaki (1876-1951) who
was active in Paris in the 1920s and `30s and worked with great artists of the time, such
as Eileen Gray or Auguste Rodin, as well as with prominent tribal art dealers. His bases
are celebrated as veritable works of art. Each of his stands was created to fit its sculpture
perfectly, sculpture and base ultimately unifying as a cohesive object.
Byeri reliquary guardian figure
Fang, Meke-Betsi style, Northern Gabon
Early 20
th
century
Height: 41 cm 16 ¼ in.
Ex Sotheby's New York, November 20
th
, 1991, lot 80
Stand by Kichizô Inagaki (1876-1951)