Mahongwe Reliquary Figure

This Mahongwe representation was part of a reliquary ensemble, positioned above and tied with its base to a basket, containing relics (skulls or fragmental bones) of venerated members of the family or ancestors. The ensemble is known as bwete (or bwiiti).This foliated head is a two-dimensional abstracted representation with a wooden core construction. It is wrapped with brass, but differs entirely on each side. It is truncated at the base, with a cylindrical brass coiled bulb at the summit, representing a thick braid worn by notables in a traditional headdress (L. Perrois.). The luminous quality of copper and brass, identified with spirituality, served ideally as expressive media for the ancestor reliquary role – as mediators between the living and the spirits of the other world. Additionally, these expensive materials covering the reliquary representation testified to these heirlooms' precious value, attesting to a family’s wealth, prosperity and prestige.