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Euvrard & Fabre

114 - Kwélé, Gabon Altar figure, wood, pigment H.
See original version (French)

Estimate €300 - €400
Sale commission
Description
Kwélé, Gabon Altar figure, wood, pigment H. 38 cm – W. 16 cm (on a plinth). All the Kwele ritual objects, carved from fairly light wood, were emblems of status within the Beete initiatory society, which brought together local dignitaries and warriors. Through its rites, the Beete enabled the mobilisation of the community’s magical powers to resolve crises, ward off danger or promote village life, particularly hunting. The beete objects were kept in a hut serving as a secret meeting place for the initiates, and these altar figures were its most important symbols. This is evidenced by the presence of the seat, which emphasises the veneration due to the ancestor represented, but above all by the pieces of wood taken from the surface of the seat, used as magical ingredients by the community.
See original version (French)
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About the sale AFRICAN ART – TERRACOTTA FROM THE INDUS VALLEY – PRE-COLUMBIAN ART – OCEANIAN ART – HOPI CULTURE
Auction location
Auction time 06/24/2026 at 1:30 PM
Ref. : 3358 - 6
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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