African Collection Kota Or Obamba Artist Reliquary Guardian Figure (Mbulu Ngulu) Kota or Obamba artist Reliquary guardians served as figural ornaments inserted into woven baskets that held the revered bones of deceased family members. The guardian figure’s large head and relatively flattened face were visible to onlookers while its diamond-shaped body functioned as a base once enclosed by a basket below. Many owners of reliquary guardians like this one were part of families of farmers who moved often in search of new lands to cultivate. Rather than bury their relatives at distant gravesites, family members used reliquary guardian figures to identify and preserve their ancestors’ remains. Guardian figures and relics bundles enabled descendants to maintain a physical and spiritual connection to their ancestors. They also held power by providing descendants with protection and good fortune. The artist created this reliquary guardian by carefully hammering thin layers of metal sheeting and attaching them to a carved wooden support. The smooth and gleaming surface that resulted glimmers like water to signify an element that separates the living from the non-living. The artist used different types of metal, including copper, to add subtle shades of color to the figure and define its facial features. —Talia Lieber |
  
Join Our Mailing List
|
