Lot Essay
See Perrois, L., La Statuaire Fan Gabon, Paris, 1972, p.305, no.142, for a similar Fang female figure also with carved teeth in the large mouth.
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Eyema byeri, standing with the hands held together on the abdomen, the muscular arms carved free of the body, small breasts, the short legs with thighs curving around to join the buttocks and form a continuous cylinder above the rectangular support, the stylized feet with carved toes, the cylindrical navel with copper ring, grooved spine to the back of the cylindrical body, the face with inset copper tacks forming the eyes, the small nose joining the arched brows, the wide open mouth with carved teeth, small semi-circular ears in relief, the coiffure sweeping backwards terminating in a single tress at the nape of the neck and with three ridges at the top, the central ridge pierced for insertions, dark patina with traces of oil and some encrustations
Details
A FINE FANG FEMALE RELIQUARY FIGURE
Eyema byeri, standing with the hands held together on the abdomen, the muscular arms carved free of the body, small breasts, the short legs with thighs curving around to join the buttocks and form a continuous cylinder above the rectangular support, the stylized feet with carved toes, the cylindrical navel with copper ring, grooved spine to the back of the cylindrical body, the face with inset copper tacks forming the eyes, the small nose joining the arched brows, the wide open mouth with carved teeth, small semi-circular ears in relief, the coiffure sweeping backwards terminating in a single tress at the nape of the neck and with three ridges at the top, the central ridge pierced for insertions, dark patina with traces of oil and some encrustations
15 in. (38 cm.) high
Eyema byeri, standing with the hands held together on the abdomen, the muscular arms carved free of the body, small breasts, the short legs with thighs curving around to join the buttocks and form a continuous cylinder above the rectangular support, the stylized feet with carved toes, the cylindrical navel with copper ring, grooved spine to the back of the cylindrical body, the face with inset copper tacks forming the eyes, the small nose joining the arched brows, the wide open mouth with carved teeth, small semi-circular ears in relief, the coiffure sweeping backwards terminating in a single tress at the nape of the neck and with three ridges at the top, the central ridge pierced for insertions, dark patina with traces of oil and some encrustations
15 in. (38 cm.) high
Provenance
Julius Carlebach, New York, 1954