Cameroon Grasslands: a dance crest in the form of a bird.
Such head crest masks in bird form are worn on the head at dances and processions of the ‘Juju dance groups’ of the Bamileke people in the Cameroon Grasslands (north-west Cameroon). They are attached to rings of plant fibres. The dancer looks out through a net under the dance crest. He wears a full body costume. According to the Cameroon expert Dr. Pierre Harter, such bird representations in the art of the Cameroon Grasslands are always an allusion to life and death. Flying birds symbolise a connection between earth and heaven, between the world of the living and the world of the ancestors. The present ‘bird crest’ is carved of light-coloured wood, dyed black-brown and white, as well as accentuated with red (by means of redwood powder). It has a full, hemispherical body with flat formed wings, a neck and head with open beak at the front and a short, wide tail at the back. On the head is a hole, with remains of black tree resin. Here decorative feathers were probably inserted earlier. A stylistically very well designed piece with beautiful, partly shiny usage patina, especially at the bottom on the inside, in the correct places. No damage.
Length: 40 cm; height: 15 cm; width: 18 cm.
First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
German private collection.
Lit.:
‘Africana’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. 154.
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
20.02.2017 - 14:00
- Prezzo di partenza:
-
EUR 600,-
Cameroon Grasslands: a dance crest in the form of a bird.
Such head crest masks in bird form are worn on the head at dances and processions of the ‘Juju dance groups’ of the Bamileke people in the Cameroon Grasslands (north-west Cameroon). They are attached to rings of plant fibres. The dancer looks out through a net under the dance crest. He wears a full body costume. According to the Cameroon expert Dr. Pierre Harter, such bird representations in the art of the Cameroon Grasslands are always an allusion to life and death. Flying birds symbolise a connection between earth and heaven, between the world of the living and the world of the ancestors. The present ‘bird crest’ is carved of light-coloured wood, dyed black-brown and white, as well as accentuated with red (by means of redwood powder). It has a full, hemispherical body with flat formed wings, a neck and head with open beak at the front and a short, wide tail at the back. On the head is a hole, with remains of black tree resin. Here decorative feathers were probably inserted earlier. A stylistically very well designed piece with beautiful, partly shiny usage patina, especially at the bottom on the inside, in the correct places. No damage.
Length: 40 cm; height: 15 cm; width: 18 cm.
First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
German private collection.
Lit.:
‘Africana’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. 154.
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Asta: | Tribal Art |
| Tipo d'asta: | Asta in sala |
| Data: | 20.02.2017 - 14:00 |
| Luogo dell'asta: | Wien | Palais Dorotheum |
| Esposizione: | 11.02. - 20.02.2017 |