A Mbete Reliquary Vessel Lid

GABON 19TH/20TH CENTURY In this Mbete reliquary vessel, the representation is limited to the head. The narrow slits of closed eyes are fashioned from hammered brass. The parted lips expose added metal teeth. A pair of filaments with blue glass beads hang suspended from the chin. The helmet-like structure of the hair features a prominently raised crescent that extends from above the forehead to the nape of the neck and intersects with horizontal crescents projecting from the sides. The neck is collared with the vertebrae of a snake. Wood, metal, fiber, bone, glass beads 24.5 in. (62.23 cm.) height SOLD