Description
The Fang people, residing in Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, & Cameroon's rainforests, uphold a rich cultural heritage tied to their belief in ancestral relic's spiritual power, notably seen in their bieri-associated reliquary guardians. Over centuries, the Fang migrated southwest, safeguarding ancestors' skulls in sacred bark boxes symbolizing lineage continuity & community cohesion. Mounted atop were carved heads or figures, shielding contents from women & uninitiated boys' view. Originally heads, these guardians evolved into busts & full figures. As the bieri cult waned in the 20th century, the syncretic bwiti religion emerged, reducing bieri's significance. Fang artisans' bieri figures embody esteemed qualities like tranquility, vitality, & balance, reflected in their formsinfant heads on adult bodies signifying life stages & generational cycles. Static yet tense, with passive faces & taut muscles, these figures embody the Fang's quest for harmony & equilibrium, expressing their spiritual & cultural ideals. Provenance: Robert Pearson Collection Bob Pearson began collecting African art later in his life. He was an engineer, inveterate climber, & long-time collector of books & paintings. Spurred by the Douglas Society at the Denver Museum of Art, & his friendship with noted collector George Heggarty, he began building an enormous, eclectic collection. His African art library grew to several hundred books. He loved textiles & "material culture"-things that had domestic use, like spoons, cups, stools, & chairs, as well as masks & carvings. His collection included items from more than thirty African countries, & his fine eye gave him pieces ranging from a gold dust scale to huge Dogon figural ladders. Africa Direct is honored to have been chosen to sell them. Fang Bieri Reliquary Figure With Feathers Equatorial Guinea
