Female representation of the Fang ethnic group, specifically the Mabea subgroup. This is a figure of a guardian of a reliquary (eyema byeri), placed on top of the relic box. The sculpture stands on large, separated, and bent legs and feet; the long, separated arms extend with the hands resting on the thighs, almost at the knees. A large, curved head stands out above its wide, short neck, with large curved ears protruding. The face features large, almond-shaped open eyes and an atypical, prominent mouth adorned with multiple teeth. Her head is crowned by a striking hairstyle, which takes the form of a plume or crest.
The appearance of the Mabea reliquary guardians is characterized by a distinctive style within Fang statuary; they deviate from the ordinary aesthetics of these figures, both in their hairstyle and their face, which features an open mouth showing their teeth and open eyes, as already mentioned.

The great cult and reverence that the Fang people profess towards their ancestors makes statues the primary manifestation of their art, with the Byeri as its crowning representation. These are wooden figures that guard the boxes containing the relics of the ancestors (pieces of skull, bone, and personal objects). From the day they are made, they are coated with palm oil, which helps them acquire a smooth, shiny patina.
Fang Mabea sculptures are highly valued both in the cultural context and in the art market, due to their rarity and artistic quality. Since the beginning of the 20th century, these statues, especially since the First World War, have been very scarce pieces, constituting the most exquisite and limited corpus of Fang statuary.

The Mabea were a people who lived alongside the Fang and Ndowe tribes throughout the 19th century; they were originally known as Bissió.
Conservation status: Very good. Small fissures and cracks are visible, the most noticeable on the left side (head and upper arm), without affecting the integrity of the piece. Its patina is striking, bright and very dark, with wear that reveals the natural wood grain and enhances the expressiveness of the face, highlighting its texture and authenticity.
"Unique female figure of imposing presence, symbol of power"

GOURO ZAOULI MASK
Ivory Coast, 20th century

Very good state of preservation, with small fissures and cracks visible, especially on the left side of the head and arm, without affecting the integrity of the piece. The bright, dark patina, with natural wear, reveals the texture of the wood and highlights the expressiveness of the face.

Originating from Cameroon in the early 20th century, this figure belongs to the Mabea subgroup of the Fang people, who worshipped their ancestors through reliquaries guarded by sculptures like this. The Mabea, known as Bissió, coexisted with the Fang and Ndowe in the 19th century. Bieri figures are fundamental to Fang cultural identity and, since the First World War, have been considered rare and highly significant pieces in African art.