Statue of Byeri - Fang - Ntumu Group - Gabon - 53 cm

CHARACTERISTICS Height: 53cm Material: wood ---------------------------------------- Object of worship / Object of form --- ----------------------------------------------- ORIGIN: Unpublished object, first sale, no history of sale or collection. - This object comes from a family heirloom passed down through generations. - Harvested around the middle of the 20th century - We would like to let you know that on this seller's account 100% of the objects come from private families, it is a bias, a line of conduct which, we hope, brings us closer to the pure authenticity of the work. - In this case we collected this object in the Grand Est region, in Revin, in the heart of the Foret domaniale du Regnault castle, France. The dating that we have indicated is related to the account of the family and corresponding to the harvest of this one. Is it older? It is possible, but we remained fair because we have no elements to affirm a seniority more proven than that indicated. The dating of Fang objects is a very complex subject, theoretically any post-twentieth century objects should be considered as a possible late production of African art, however on many of them we notice the presence of a skilled sculptor's hand. In reality the rituals ended around the very beginning of the 20th century, many master sculptors continued to produce, commercial production began long before colonization and was maintained until the massive arrival of settlers. How to separate things? The sculptural quality of the work must take precedence above all else, there is a real know-how to be respected, both in terms of style and proportions, we buy an emotion and not an investment, even if it is necessary. recognizing placement remains very trendy for these rising works. Fang works dating from the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century are no longer accessible to the general public, they are kept in museums or large prestigious collections. One or the other appears from time to time in large prestigious auction houses and makes impressive sales records, contributing to the health and performance of the African art market. It is therefore much more legitimate to acquire a Fang work from the first part or mid-twentieth century, because they remain rare and were sculpted by artists without the aim of deceiving the eye, this is a very important nuance! DESCRIPTION: The Byeri cult has relationships with the ancestors, protectors of the living. A Byeri is a sculpture that surmounts a reliquary, see the photos we have attached. We consult the Byeri, who represents the founding ancestor, during the displacement of the village, the creation of a new plantation, before a hunt, a war, a palaver. The ancestors, materialized by the bones, will use the dream to answer the questions of the head of the family. The view of the Byeri is forbidden to women and children. Only men who have passed the initiation of So and who have at least one son are initiated into the cult. Literature: Basler, Art among primitive peoples, 1929 Evans, African Negro Arts Exhibition Portfolio, 1935 Perrois, The statuary Fan (Gabon) , 1972 SECTOR African art, Africa, tribal art, primitive art, primitive art, Design, Contemporary art, Painting and cubist forms.