Mahogwe, River Ogooué, Gabon, 1st third of the... Lot 18

Mahogwe, River Ogooué, Gabon, 1st third of the 20th century Reliquary figure "Bwété presenting a stylized face of ovoid and concave shape. It is covered with brass strips cut out and fixed by copper clasps and the eyes are cabochon-shaped. The wooden base forming the neck is wrapped with brass strips, it allowed to fix the sculpture to the basket. Wood, brass, copper. Height: 42 cm. The Mahongwe are part of the Kota group, they live in the north-eastern province of Gabon. Provenance : Collected in-situ by Fernand OLIVEDA, Knight of the Legion of Honor and Chief Administrator of the colonies from 1888 to 1930 (Madagascar, Senegal, Congo). In 1925, he was Chief of the Secretariat of the General Governor of the Middle Congo.