{"product_id":"fang-reliquary-head-gabon-154625","title":"Fang Reliquary Head Gabon","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThis exquisitely sculpted head was traditionally associated with figures and masks prevalent across a vast region spanning from Cameroon to Gabon and the Atlantic coast. While the specific function of this remarkable old carving is unknown, its intricate craftsmanship and facial features resemble figural images found on family altars, leading us to believe it may have been part of the Fang Byeri funerary cult. This cult utilized Byeri reliquaries to house the bones of ancestors and were revered through annual ceremonies, during which they took the form of sculptures. Dating back to as early as 1907 (Tessmann 1913\/1972, vol. II), the Byeri cult began to decline in importance after 1910 due to pressure from the French colonial government. In the past, these figures were often adorned with native copper bands and occasionally held miniature ancestor figures or carved animal horns known as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eNlakh\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e or small cups used in Byeri rituals to honor ancestors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Polaris-Box\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_ActivatorWrapper_36nu6_55\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"PRODUCT.metafields.custom.height_in_-anchor\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_ActivatorButton_36nu6_59\" aria-label=\"Edit Height (In) metafield\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_RowWrapper_36nu6_4\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"_FormFieldLabel_36nu6_30\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"Polaris-Text--root Polaris-Text--bodyMd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArrested bug damage on the base\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHeight (In): 19.0\u003cbr\u003eWidth (In): 7.0\u003cbr\u003eDepth (In): 6.5\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003e154625\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"sku 154000","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51353056379175,"sku":"154625","price":290.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0826\/1015\/9911\/files\/IMG_5438_1cbcdfa0-00b8-4302-a56b-a9153a2b5498.jpg?v=1777473969","url":"https:\/\/africadirect.com\/products\/fang-reliquary-head-gabon-154625","provider":"Africa Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}