Eyema O Byeri On Its Nsekh - semi- dense wood, bark and vegetal string - Fang Betsi - the far northwestern part of Gabon

Excellent Eyema O Byeri On Its Nsekh – Fang Betsi – Gabon In reasonably good state with some native repairs. It dates to the first decade of the 20th century. Provenance: Ex- collection of the Right Reverend Fathers of the congregation of the Holy Spirit, Mortain, France. Obtained from them by H. Westerdijk between 1975 and 1980. This very classic Betsi guardian figure sits on its original Nsekh or barkwood box that once contained the ancestral remains of the kingroup that owned it. The figure is in Betsi style and holds a cup for libitations in its hands, a clear Betsi style trait. The hairdo, build and navel of this piece correspond well with those of the piece quoted below, which is attributed to the Betsi on good grounds. Its surface has a nice patina from long use. The signs of wear and tear on this item are quite strikingly present, which adds to the general character of this antique item that shows a lot of presence. Literature: Yves le Fur (ed.) : Les Forêts Natales, Paris, 2017, pp. 216 -217. Dimensions overall : 77x 18 x 19 cm. People/ Region: The Betsi live in the far northwestern part of Gabon on the border with Equatorial Guinea. Material: semi- dense wood, bark and vegetal string. Weight: 1. 65 kg Byeri 1. 225 kg. Sold with handwritten declaration of authenticity by Dr. P. Westerdijk, museum ethnologist and cultural anthropologist specialized, for over 50 years now, in the study of the material cultures in African nations that live south of the Sahara.