Mahongwe Reliquary Statue, Gabon

Armand Charles, Paris
Enchères Rive Gauche, Paris, December 2, 2009, lot 53
Private Collection, Paris, acquired at the above auction

Good condition for an object of this type and age. Wood is weathered and aged with exposure, with encrustation on reverse. Encrustation is crusty and crumbling in places. Metal with dents, bends, small losses, oxidation/verdigris, and encrustation throughout as seen in catalogue photographs. Remaining piece of exposed wood below the neck at the bottom broken and glued. Drilled through the shaft of the neck for placement on base (removable).
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Reliquary statues by the Mahongwe, a subgroup of the Kota people, count amongst the iconic genres of African Art.  LaGamma (2007: 216, text to cat. 53) notes: "Among Kele- and Kota-speaking peoples, the contents of each family reliquary were conceived as highly distinct in character. Not only did the preserved relics, enhanced with decorative metal additions, represent ties to specific ancestors, but the magical substances that accompanied varied greatly.  These could include copper artifacts such as rings and bracelets.  [...] Despite this emphasis on the individualized nature of each reliquary ensemble, the corpus of accompanying foliate sculptures is surprisingly consistent, both stylistically and technically."

The Mahongwe reliquary statue previously in the Armand Charles Collection in Paris is an exceptional example, featuring a pronounced concavity which is juxtaposed by the aquiline convexity of its large nose.  In profile, it evokes the silhouette of a knife.  And LaGamma (ibid.) adds: "in fact, elaborately ornate regional knives often featured handles similar to the necks of these reliquary forms wrapped in fine copper wire or heavier brass or copper ribbon.  Siroto suggests that the formal reference to a bladelike configuration invested the works with a design identified with the collective character of leadership exemplified by the individuals whose relics they accompanied."