Lot 121
Ambete Reliquary Figure, Gabon or Republic of the Congo
Estimate$800–$1,200
Offered in A Lifetime of Discovery III · Sunday, November 1, 2026, To be announced
A carved wood reliquary figure attributed to the Ambete, or Mbete, peoples of the Gabon and Republic of the Congo border region. The compact standing figure is carved with an oversized head, broad facial features and short legs, with extensive dark encrusted surface patina and surviving cloth and fiber bindings around the neck, torso and waist.
The reverse is carved with large rectangular cavities to the back of the head and torso, characteristic of Ambete reliquary sculpture and intended to contain ancestral relics or other ritual materials. A further recessed cavity appears at the crown. The figure retains substantial surface deposits, old textile and cord elements, and extensive evidence of age and use.
- Size
- 18 1/2 in. high
- Provenance
- Property from an important private collection, assembled by a dealer and collector over more than six decades.
- Condition
- Extensive age-related wear, cracking, surface losses and encrustation. Losses to the lower legs and feet. Old textile and fiber bindings remain. Reliquary cavities are empty. Mounted on a later metal display base. Please refer to photographs.
Estimates are opinions of value, given as a guide.