Bamenda, Oku Kingdom, Cameroon Grasslands: a pull-on mask from the Oku region in the Bamenda highlands, north-west Cameroon.
Bamenda, Oku Kingdom, Cameroon Grasslands: a pull-on mask from the Oku region in the Bamenda highlands, north-west Cameroon.
In the fertile grassland in north-west Cameroon every village, every town, every larger family-clan and each of the many small kingdoms maintains its own ‘Juju dance group’ that performs at important events. At these events the ‘Juju dancers’ wear helmet or pull-on masks that sit at an angle on the head. The dancer looks out through a net below the edge of the mask.
The present mask originates stylistically from the Bamenda from the small kingdom of Oku (with town and mountain range of the same name). It is carved of hard, dark wood and dyed black-brown. The eyebrows, eyes, ears and teeth are accentuated with white. The typical knobbed bonnet of a high dignitary, and the goatee are carved out of the same piece of wood. Based on this evidence, the mask is a ‘Kam mask’, which is only worn by cult leaders of a ‘Juju group’. An old piece with colour scuffing to exposed areas at the front, and good usage patina behind, on the inside. A minor break to the right corner of the mouth. Otherwise there is no significant damage. An old collection label on the reverse, with the word ‘Oku’, indicates the original provenance of this Cameroon mask.
Height: 34 cm; width: 24 cm.
First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
German private collection.
Lit.:
‘Kamerun. Kunst der Könige’ by Lorenz Homberger, ill. 67,129, 131, 132.
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 800,-
Bamenda, Oku Kingdom, Cameroon Grasslands: a pull-on mask from the Oku region in the Bamenda highlands, north-west Cameroon.
In the fertile grassland in north-west Cameroon every village, every town, every larger family-clan and each of the many small kingdoms maintains its own ‘Juju dance group’ that performs at important events. At these events the ‘Juju dancers’ wear helmet or pull-on masks that sit at an angle on the head. The dancer looks out through a net below the edge of the mask.
The present mask originates stylistically from the Bamenda from the small kingdom of Oku (with town and mountain range of the same name). It is carved of hard, dark wood and dyed black-brown. The eyebrows, eyes, ears and teeth are accentuated with white. The typical knobbed bonnet of a high dignitary, and the goatee are carved out of the same piece of wood. Based on this evidence, the mask is a ‘Kam mask’, which is only worn by cult leaders of a ‘Juju group’. An old piece with colour scuffing to exposed areas at the front, and good usage patina behind, on the inside. A minor break to the right corner of the mouth. Otherwise there is no significant damage. An old collection label on the reverse, with the word ‘Oku’, indicates the original provenance of this Cameroon mask.
Height: 34 cm; width: 24 cm.
First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
German private collection.
Lit.:
‘Kamerun. Kunst der Könige’ by Lorenz Homberger, ill. 67,129, 131, 132.
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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kundendienst@dorotheum.at +43 1 515 60 200 |
| 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 |