RELIQUAIRE KOTA DU SUD, GABON Bois, laiton... - Lot 60 - Binoche et Giquello

Kota reliquary, Gabon
H. 22 13/16 in
Provenance:
- René and Mercedes Lavigne Collection, Genève
- Guy Piazzini Collection (1930-2018), Paris
- Jacques Dubanton Collection
Exhibition:
- Galerie Dutko-Piazzini, Paris, 1992
Bibliography:
- Louis Perrois, Arts du Gabon, Les Arts plastiques du Bassin de l'Ogoué, Arts d'Afrique Noire, Paris, 1979, fig 151, p. 160
- « La collection Lavigne », Arts d'Afrique Noire n°7, Automne 1973, p. 12
This reliquary from the Lavigne collection shows both its great elegance through the respective proportions of the face and the body and its great finesse of execution, particularly in its concave part dominated by this red metal cut into thin strips. The very present and slightly bulging eyes are held by an iron clasp, they overhang this "tear" or iron scarification.
Uncommon in this type of reliquary, a small "bun" dominates the upper crescent. The design of the "lozenge", very much in relief, at the back of the reliquary evokes a long face in abstract.
The beautiful untouched material on the metal parts and the deep black patina on the back of the reliquary, reddish and smooth near the base indicates its degree of age and use.
Mercedes and René Lavigne were well-known collectors in Geneva for their collection of modern paintings, which they began with, and then for their collection of African art when they were attracted by the links that could be established between their two collections.
They were particularly fond of the Boga, the Dogon and Gabon with several masks and notably four superb Kota reliquaries including this Southern Kota reliquary of great stylistic quality.