Altar Reliquary Kota Mbete From Gabon

Very rare altar reliquary Kota from Gabon wood hollowed out in the back revealing a trapdoor where fabrics are buried height 54cm plus base 58cm Figure of reliquary on a stool holds in its hands a bone (Human or animal?) it is held by ropes and straps The head is covered with brass strips as is the neck and two brass bracelets encircle the upper arms Two large rings around the neck We can see some grafts from native restorations Brilliant patina at the elbows and fronts arm caused by repeated handling This piece is rare and old, eroded wood at the level of the right rear leg of the stool. It is similar to that of the collection of the Ethnographic Museum of Antwerp and the Penn Museum of Philadelphia. This statue is monoxyl, only a very small number are known. It must have been in a sacred hut dedicated to honoring the ancestors, free shipping throughout the world.