African Bakota Reliquary Guardian 13

African Guardians and statues of the Bakota

The Bakota people once placed these Guardians, called "Mbulu Ngulu", atop baskets containing the bones of revered ancestors to guard those remains. The figures are carved of wood, then covered with woven strips of copper and brass, and hand-hammered sheets of copper and brass. This Bakota Reliquary Guardian measures 22 inches tall, 10 inches wide, and comes mounted on a custom-made museum quality stand.