Reliquary figure "mbulu" or "mwete" Gabon, Kota wood, brass and copper sheet, metal nails and -clamps, an oval hollowed face, enlivened by metal plating from various materials, typical sickle-shaped coiffure and projections on both sides, the neck merging into a diamond-shaped handle, which originally was inserted in the lid of the skull receptacle, rep., min. dam., minor missing parts through insect caused damage, slight traces of corrosion; the ancestral cult forms the centre of the religious and social life within the family collective. When a patriarch died various relics were taken from his body and were kept in wickerwork baskets "usuwu" with stylized figures on top. Each family clan owned such a reliquary ensemble, which were all kept in the background of the chiefs hut. At initiation rites the family clans gathered and each clan leader performed a dance holding the respective reliquary in his hands. H: 60 cm Provenance: Samuel Dubiner, Tel Aviv, Israel Aaron Furman, New York, 1970s Christie's London, 18 March 1980, lot 315 Richard Rüegg, Zurich, Switzerland Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, 2June 2012, lot 198 Walter Schmidt, Würzburg/Innsbruck, Germany/Austria Exhibited: African Art Collection Samuel Dubiner, Tel Aviv Museum, January 1960; African Art Collection Samuel Dubiner, Bezalel National Museum, Jerusalem, 7 August - 7 October 1960; African Art Collection of Samuel Dubiner, Tokyo, National Museum, 31 June 1961 Published in: African Art Collection Samuel Dubiner, Tel Aviv Museum, January 1960; African Art Collection Samuel Dubiner, Bezalel National Museum, Jerusalem, 7 August - 7 October 1960; African Art Collection of Samuel Dubiner, Tokyo, National Museum, 31 June 1961 YALE: 0034343 Lit.: Lagamma, Alisa (ed.), Eternal Ancestors, New York 2007, p. 256, ill. 80 Reliquarfigur "mbulu" oder "mwete" Gabun, Kota Holz, Messing- und Kupferblech, Metallnägel und -klammern, ovales, konkav eingemuldetes Gesichtsfeld, belebt durch Metallauflage aus unterschiedlichen Materialien, typische mondsichelförmige Frisur und seitliche Wangenklappen, der Hals in einen rautenförmig durchbrochenen Griff übergehend, rep., min. besch., kleine Fehlstellen durch Insektenfrass, leichte Korrosionsspuren; der Ahnenkult bildete das Zentrum des religiösen und sozialen Lebens innerhalb des Familienverbandes. Beim Tode eines Familienoberhauptes wurden seinem Körper diverse Reliquien entnommen und in Körben "usuwu" aufbewahrt, auf denen stilisierte Figuren befestigt wurden. Jeder Familienklan besaß ein Reliquiar, das in der Häuptlingshütte untergebracht war. Bei der Initiation in den Reliquiar-Kult fanden sich die Klans zusammen, um die kollektiven Rituale zu vollziehen. Jedes Klanoberhaupt führte mit dem Reliquiar in Händen einen Tanz auf. H: 60 cm Provenance: Samuel Dubiner, Tel Aviv, Israel Aaron Furman, New York, 1970s Christie's London, 18 March 1980, lot 315 Richard Rüegg, Zurich, Switzerland Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, 2June 2012, lot 198 Walter Schmidt, Würzburg/Innsbruck, Germany/Austria Exhibited: African Art Collection Samuel Dubiner, Tel Aviv Museum, January 1960; African Art Collection Samuel Dubiner, Bezalel National Museum, Jerusalem, 7 August - 7 October 1960; African Art Collection of Samuel Dubiner, Tokyo, National Museum, 31 June 1961 Published in: African Art Collection Samuel Dubiner, Tel Aviv Museum, January 1960; African Art Collection Samuel Dubiner, Bezalel National Museum, Jerusalem, 7 August - 7 October 1960; African Art Collection of Samuel Dubiner, Tokyo, National Museum, 31 June 1961 YALE: 0034343 Lit.: Lagamma, Alisa (ed.), Eternal Ancestors, New York 2007, p. 256, ill. 80