Reliquary Figure
Artist: Kota Peoples (African)
Date: Late 19th - early 20th century
Dimensions:
H. 20 in. (50.8 cm), W. 11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm).
Medium: Carved wood, brass, copper and iron
Place of Origin: Gabon
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: Purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number: 1973.10
Label Text:The two faces of this ancestor figure look in both directions—to the past and to the future, to the world of the living and that of the dead. The concave face is female and the convex face, male. The purpose of a reliquary figure was to protect a sacred basket (usuwu) containing the skulls, bones, and other relics of particularly wealthy or powerful clan members. The three colors of metal sheeting, a highly valued import from Europe, conveys a brilliant aura to honor these relics as they continue to protect a clan during crises such as sickness, war, or the death of a leader.
On view
In Collection(s)