We are not exactly sure as to the origins of this piece but believe it was created in the style of the Bamun people of Cameroon. It depicts a figure with child-like features and is decorated with berries. The statue measures 17 inches tall and weighs 6.5 pounds. Some of the berries are missing, there is a hole in the top of the head, probably where substances would have been put and there is some cracking and wear and tear throughout – please inspect photos.
Sale!
Unique Bamun Statue 17″ – Cameroon – African Art
Original price was: $140.00.$35.00Current price is: $35.00.
1 in stock
| Type of Object | Figure, statue |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Cameroon |
| Ethnicity | Bamun (Bamum) |
| Material | Wood, pigment and berries |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height | 17" |
| Width | 7" |
| Depth | 8" |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Missing berries. Hole on top of head. Cracking and wear and tear. |
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.