KOTA RELIQUAIRE

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Art
BIOGRAPHY

Réf. 6372

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Reliquaire Kota

Kota Reliquary Figure, Gabon

Wood and brass

DIMENSIONS :
– 53 x 25 cm
– 62 x 25 cm avec socle
– 20 7/8 x 9 7/8 in.
– 24 3/8 x 9 7/8 in. with basement

Certificate by Mr Stephane Mangin

PROVENANCE :

– Dr. Lacroix, Assistant Military Surgeon with the French Colonial Troops, French Equatorial Africa, circa 1905

This fine Kota reliquary figure stands out for the harmony of its proportions and the exceptional quality of its craftsmanship. The concave, oval-shaped face is structured by a raised central ridge extending into a slender, projecting nose. The delicately rendered crescent-shaped eyes lend the figure a striking sense of restraint and serenity, while the deliberate absence of a mouth reinforces its refined stylization. The face is surmounted by a broad crescent-shaped crest and framed by large lateral projections adorned with cylindrical pendant elements. The wooden core is entirely sheathed in hammered brass sheets engraved with geometric motifs. The treatment of the face is particularly sophisticated: narrow copper strips are carefully applied in parallel across the cheeks, while beneath the eyes a rare and intricate pattern of interwoven copper lamellae demonstrates the remarkable technical skill of the artisan. The openwork diamond-shaped lower section is partially clad on the front with stapled brass sheets. On the reverse, the exposed wooden core is carved with a vertical ridge, reflecting the attention devoted to every aspect of the sculpture. The balanced composition, refined metalwork, and rich patina make this reliquary figure an outstanding example of Kota funerary sculpture produced between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

 

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