Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request).
Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request).
Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request). 1
Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request). 2
Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request). 3
Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request). 4
Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request). 5
Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request). 8
Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request). 9
Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request). 10
Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request). 11
Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request). 12

Rare and Important Reliquary guardian figure - ‘Byeri’ - Fang People, Gabon M31 - (Price on request).

Price upon request.
In the belief that certain bones of great people retained their supernatural powers after death, the Fang venerated and preserved such remains. The relics were kept in containers called reliquaries made of bark or woven plant fibers. The sculpted guardians protected the relics from malicious humans and evil spirits and served as a point of contact between the ancestral relics & designated family members. The figure was a symbolic evocation of the ancestor, as well as a source of magical protection for the relics.

Originally purchased in Germany before the second World War by Dr. Wurtzburger, Baltimore Museum of Art 1954-1984 (Inv. 54.145.60),Ex. Adelyn Breeskin late 1950’s, Sotheby’s November 30, 1984 (Lot 596), Ex. Tony and Pura Chen, NY (1984-1997), Scott Rodolitz (1997-1998), Ex. Christopher and Genevieve McConnell collection (1998 to 2021)
Exhibited: Baltimore Museum of Art: “The Wurtzburger Collection of African Sculpture” Jan. 12 - Feb. 14. 1954
The Memorial Gallery, SUNY Rochester, Rochester, ‘The Wurtzburger Collection” NY Oct. 8 - Nov. 7, 1954
See photos from the book Tribal Arts of West Africa and exhibition photo from 1954.
Listed as object ao-0045085-001 in the Guy Van Riijn African art archive.éyéma-o-byéri (=image of the ancestor)

"Tribal Art of West Africa" (Curated by H. Bruce Greene) Jan. 15 - Nov. 19 1971:
Birmingham Museum of Art Birmingham, Alabama
Fort Worth Art Center Fort Worth, Texas
Gallery of Fine Arts Murray State University Murray. Kentucky
Georgia Museum of Art Athens, Georgia
Hunter Gallery of Art Chattanooga. Tennessee
Jacksonville Art Museum Jacksonville, Florida
Loch Haven Art Center Orlando, Florida
Miami Art Center Miami, Florida
Murphy Fine Arts Center Morgan State College Baltimore, Maryland
Tennessee Botanical Gardens and Fine Art Center "Cheekwood" Nashville, Tennessee

Published: Baltimore Museum of Art News Quarterly: “A Tribute to Adelyn Breeskin”. Summer 1962, Pg. 14.
H. Bruce Greene: Tribal Art of West Africa II. 1971. Maryland, Fig. 106.
AHDRC Archive #: 45085

Height: 12 ⅞"
Width: 3 ⅝"
Depth: 3"
Note: Stand not included
Missing front of feet and back left of foot.

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