Sale!

Metal Covered Bamun Mask 15.5″- Cameroon – African Art

Original price was: $295.00.Current price is: $147.50.

Sold

SKU: 1016810 Categories: , ,
Discover African Art Handmad Badge

This Bamun mask was beautifully carved and then covered in a thin sheet metal with intricate designs throughout. The mask measures 15.5 inches tall and weighs 4 pounds. There is some chipping on the backside of the mask and wear and tear throughout – please see photos. Stand not included but one can be added for additional charge.

 

 

Type of Object

Face Mask

Country of Origin

Cameroon

Ethnicity

Bamun

Material

Wood, pigment, yarn and metal

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height

15.5"

Width

11"

Depth

5"

Weight

4 lbs

Overall Condition

Some chipping on the back. Wear and tear throughout.

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.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Metal Covered Bamun Mask 15.5″- Cameroon – African Art”