In 2001 De Grunne and Perrois described the extreme similarity of six Fang figures made about 200 years ago in the upper valley of the Ntem river in northern Gabon in a unique workshop, probably by the same artist of the Mvai ethnic group. The beautiful dark brown polished patina is typical of this group.
To perform their main function as a deterrent guardian of a reliquary chest of the byeri, these characters are male, highly sexualized with powerful rounded muscles. The three-pointed headdress is a warrior attribute. Yet the big head, the prominent navel and the short limbs have the proportions of a newborn child.
At the beginning of the 20th century European artists were seduced by this model of which all the known examples are of a perfect execution. The Fang-Mvai figure evokes the whole cycle of life in one character without losing any of its aesthetic balance. Expression in art does not need realism to arouse the emotion.
On June 15, 2011 Sotheby's sold for € 2,6M including premium one of these statuettes 53 cm high.
Another example 46 cm high is estimated $ 3M for sale by Sotheby's in New York on May 14, lot 16. With its patina still oozing the ritual palm oil, it is one of the most desirable pieces of tropical African art.
SOLD for $ 3.5M including premium
To perform their main function as a deterrent guardian of a reliquary chest of the byeri, these characters are male, highly sexualized with powerful rounded muscles. The three-pointed headdress is a warrior attribute. Yet the big head, the prominent navel and the short limbs have the proportions of a newborn child.
At the beginning of the 20th century European artists were seduced by this model of which all the known examples are of a perfect execution. The Fang-Mvai figure evokes the whole cycle of life in one character without losing any of its aesthetic balance. Expression in art does not need realism to arouse the emotion.
On June 15, 2011 Sotheby's sold for € 2,6M including premium one of these statuettes 53 cm high.
Another example 46 cm high is estimated $ 3M for sale by Sotheby's in New York on May 14, lot 16. With its patina still oozing the ritual palm oil, it is one of the most desirable pieces of tropical African art.
SOLD for $ 3.5M including premium
Alexander Grogan nous présente la #Fang-Mvaï du maître de la vallée du Ntem - Une des plus importantes œuvres d’art africain à apparaitre en vente publique.
— Sotheby's France (@SothebysFr) March 28, 2018
Venez l' admirer jusqu'au 30 mars dans notre galerie #parisienne avant sa mise en vente le 14 mai à #NewYork pic.twitter.com/roVbFYI0EK
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