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Bamun Helmet Mask 16″- Cameroon – African Art

$125.00

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SKU: 1013587 Categories: ,
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This Bamun mask has a beautiful crown-like coiffure with multiple carved faces and cowrie shell carving. The mask stands at 16 inches tall and weighs 8 pounds. This piece will make an excellent addition to any home or collection. There is a large crack on top and some chipping and wear and tear throughout. Please inspect photos. Stand not included.

 

 

Type of Object

Helmet Mask

Country of Origin

Cameroon

Ethnicity

Bamun

Material

Wood, Pigment

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height

16"

Width

13"

Depth

13"

Weight

8 lbs

Overall Condition

Some cracking, chipping and scuffing. Inpsect photos.

Tribe Information

About the Bamun (Bamum) People

“The grassland region, in south-west Cameroon, is a hilly and mountainous area covered by an equatorial forest in the south and a savannah in the north. Politically, the area is divided into numerous small independent kingdoms and chiefdoms, whose powers are counterbalanced by male and female societies. Since it’s colonization by the Germans in 1884, this entire region, in particular the Bamileke, Bamun and Tikar territories, has attracted the attention of Western scholars because of its artistic heritage.”

“The sultanate of Bamun is ruled by a single, sacred king, known as the Fon, who resides in the capital Fumban. He is assisted by three officials and seven hereditary councilors to rule the 80,000 people.”

“Statues representing ancestors are found all over the Bamun and Bamileke areas. They can be life size and can be incorporated into the backrest of an elaborate throne. These figures representing the king’s wives and his attendants are usually stored in a secret part of the palace and are displayed when a foreign dignitary visits or during important ceremonies headed by the king.”

Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.

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