IThis unusual bronze sculpture is unique in African art. It is from the pre-colonial period of the 19th century. The Kota tribe in Gabon created these sculptures to serve as Guardians over the tribal ancestors. A typical sickle shaped coiffure crowns a dazzling abstract face with a ferocious expression. The extraordinarily rare reliquary sand casted bronze sculptures of the Kota tribe are considered the very highest form of African creativity. They have become icons of World art. No two figures are entirely identical, but the tradition conforms to certain basic elements in a symmetrical design. African art offered modernist abstraction and gave an important impulse to the 20th century abstract art movement in Europe. Artists who discovered the possibilities were excited by the aesthetic solution. Pablo Picasso owned two Kota reliquary figures in his collection, which inspired him to create the painting “ le Demoiselles d’Avignon “. Cubism resulted out of this influence. Artists who made use out of it are Andre Derain, Maurice de Vlaminck, Henri Matisse to name just a few.
 
Measurements: 51” H x 15 ½” W x 9 ½” D
Weight: 41.6 lbs.
 
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