Belle figure de reliquaire, Tsogho , Gabon

Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris, inv. n° 17715 - 100035, acquise en 1995
collects ion privée, Paris

The base (originally inserted into the reliquary basket) has been damaged by insects, as should be expected for an old object of this type made for tribal use - the damage is visible in the catalogue illustration. Cauris in the eyes have been restaured. Otherwise good condition overal.
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Ce buste appartient au corpus des œuvres les plus emblématiques des arts du Gabon : celui des figures de reliquaire. Au sein de cet ensemble, celles relevant du style Tsogho comptent parmi les plus rares.

Précieusement conservées dans une sorte de tabernacle au fond du temple du Bwiti - l' ebanza - et parfois exposées aux initiés lors des rites de passage, elles concentrent comme ici - à la fois dans la pose et dans l'expression - le maximum d'effets plastiques.

Le buste en position de tension - épaules relevées, bras encadrant le torse, mains ramenées les poings fermés sur le devant - annonce la force expressive du visage, l'intensité du regard rendue par l'éclat des cauris et des pupilles en fer. Tandis que la courbe du front ample est soulignée par la bande médiane en laiton, la bouche béante - caractéristique de la statuaire Tshogo - rappelle, selon Falgayrettes-Leveau (2006 : 131) le rituel d'absorption par les initiés du Bwiti, de la boulette d'écorce iboga. La force de l'effet visuel est accentuée par les très belles nuances de la patine brun rouge, profonde, avec traces de pigments ocre-rouge et de kaolin.

cf. LaGamma (2007 : 280, n° 97), pour un buste apparenté - mais au style plus naturaliste - de l'ancienne collects ion André Fourquet.

Insérée dans le panier ou le sac contenant les reliques - et livrée, avec le temps, à l'attaque des insectes - la base a le plus souvent été coupée lors de l'arrivée des œuvres en Occident. Trace visible de son usage prolongé et du lien avec le sacré, sa présence ajoute à la puissance de cette belle figure de reliquaire.

A fine Tsogho reliquary figure, Gabon

This bust belongs to the most emblematic group of works of art from Gabon: reliquary figures. Within this group, examples of the Tsogho style are perhaps amongst the rarest of all.

Carefully kept in the ebanza, a sort of tabernacle found in the Bwiti temple, and somet.mes s exhibited to initiates at the t.mes of rites of passage, the stance and expression of these figures create an impressive sculptural effect.

The tense posture of the bust – with the shoulders raised, arms framing the chest and clenched fists – is matched by the intense expressive power of the face, with its shiny cowries and iron pupils. The curve of the face is highlighted by the brass covered central ridge, whilst the open mouth, which is a particular characteristic of Tsogho statuary, recalls the Bwiti initiates ritual consumption of a pellet of iboga bark (Falgayrettes-Leveau, 2006: 131). The figure's visual power is accentuated by the fine and nuanced tone of the deep reddish-brown patina, which shows traces of kaolin and ochre pigment.

cf. LaGamma (2007: 280, no. 97) for a related bust of more naturalistic style formerly in the collects ion of André Fourquet.

As they were placed in the reliquary basket or bag and over t.mes subjected to insect attacks, the base of these figures were generally cut off when they arrived in the west. A visible trace of this figure's prolonged use, the base of this figure add to the power of this fine reliquary figure.