MBÉDÉ

MBÉDÉ

Reliquary box

20th century.Height: 67 cm.An IR spectroscopy dating certificate (G. Matthaes patent) from the Museo d’Arte e Scienza, Milan, no. 6AF-3665, indicates the date as 1937 ± 10 years.Hollowed-out hardwood trunk. Kaolin (lempiémè) patina on the body. Headdress, neck and arms stained black. Eyes made of cowrie shells (Monetaria moneta). Grid-patterned headdress. Clad in raffia fibre. The head forms the lid.