mwete/ m'bulu-ngulu

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Reliquary guardian figure

Guardian figures, Mwete or M'Bulu-Ngulu, depict deceased ancestors of the Bakota. The face and the ear decoration of this reliquary guardian are covered with a sheet of brass. The Bakota kept relics (skulls, remains of bones) of high-ranking people in tall bark boxes or baskets. The "guardians" were placed on the edge of these boxes or baskets. Like oracles, the reliquary guardians were consulted before important decisions were made.

Data Provider
Museen Freiburg Show original at data provider

Cataloguing data

Cultural attribution
Kota
Object type
figures (representations)
Dimensions
Height: 630.0 mm
Width: 330.0 mm
Depth: 85.0 mm
Material/Technique
Sheet brass, Wood, Carving
Current location
Museum Natur und Mensch
Inventory number
I/2545

Provenance and sources

  • Production
    when
    1880 - 1930
  • Change of legal title:
    Purchase
    when
    02.07.1984
    who
    Galerie Lemaire, M. L. J. - Sellers
  • Change of physical control or legal title
    where
    Gabon (location/origin)
    Africa (location/origin)
  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    Africa

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC0 1.0 DEED
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