Bamileke / Bangwa king, 4 feet, SUPERB, African Carving
| Start Price |
USD 2,200.00 |
| Current Price |
USD 2,200.00 |
| Time Left |
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| Bid Count |
0 |
| Buy It Now Price |
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| Reserve Price |
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| Start Time |
Sunday, October 05, 2008 |
| End Time |
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 |
| Location |
Denver, CO |
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See more about 'Bamileke / Bangwa king, 4 feet, SUPERB, African Carving'
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Description
Title: Bamileke/Bangwa king, 4 feet, SUPERB, African Carving Type of Object: Carving, statue, figure Ethnic Group: Bamileke Country of Origin: Cameroon Materials: Wood, rope (plant fiber), pigment Approximate Age: 20th century Dimensions: Height is 49 inches. Width is 27 inches Overall Condition: Good Damage, Repair: General wear, the crook of the staff broke off at some point, toes are chipped Additional Information: This large stylized male figure wearing a carved flowing robe and holding a staff of the office comes from one of the Cameroon groups, most probably from the Bamileke or Bangwa. The figure wears a necklace around the neck and a traditional hat also found on the Bangwa figure. The costume is richly decorated with geometric designs.The headdress represents the knitted caps worn by elites, and the long beard and the costume reinforce the idea of rank and status. The figure shows a face with vivacious expression and the body is like in motion. Among the Bangwa, Bamun, and Bamileke people ancestor figures, though formally stored in shrines, were also displayed outside royal huts on important occasions, and were thus prone to deterioration. The art of the grasslands area of Cameroon is a royal art, devoted to the veneration of ancestors and the enrichment of the Fon, the main chief of the individual "kingdoms." The large figures carved for and presented to the Fon, fall generally into two forms: representations of the Fon or one of his wives, and carvings of individual ancestors. The present figure may be a representation of a king. These figures are stored in shrines and guarded by individuals appointed by the Fon. They are a representation of his power, and brought out only on special occasions. The Cameroon Grasslands is a large and extremely diverse cultural area, inhabited by a large number of related peoples such as the Bamileke, Bamum, Bamenda, Tikar, Bangwa. There are also numerous smaller groups, loosely affiliated with one another, who share historical and political similarities. All of these groups originally came from an area to the north, scattering in complex patterns during the last several centuries. Fulani traders moving steadily southwards into Cameroon during the 17th Century forced the southern movement of most of the current residents. The dense forests, though now disappearing, and the scattered nature of the many tiny villages, has made study of this area a daunting task for ethnologists, preventing the development of a "school of thought" concerning their artistic output. Thus, the meaning of many fascinating rituals from the Grasslands will, for now, remain elusive. Recommended Reading: For more info, see Tamara Northern's EXPRESSIONS OF CAMEROON ART. **W3596** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember
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