Lot 73
Africa, northwest Cameroon, Bamun Kingdom, ca. 20th century CE. An impressive wood helmet mask of sizeable form displaying an over-sized head crowned by a towering, openwork headdress. The expressive visage presents generously lidded, almond-shaped eyes beneath arched brows, a broad nose, and full lips parted to reveal 2 rows of sharp, jagged teeth. His cheeks are adorned with incised cruciform designs, likely representing ceremonial scarification. A petite pair of pointed ears sits just below the elaborate headdress, which is comprised of 3 horizontal rows of openwork, geometric patterns flanked by zigzag top and bottom peripheries. A rich, espresso-hued pigment envelops the entirety of the piece, save for the fierce teeth, which are white. Size: 9.5" W x 19.2" H (24.1 cm x 48.8 cm)
This mask was likely created for the Kwifo, a secret male society the Bamun people. The face of the wearer would have been hidden within a costume of the Kwifo. The Kwifo society enforces the laws of the king, preserves social order, and maintains ancestral values. In effect, they are a police force answerable to the king that carry out orders and punishments at night. In fact, the word kwifo literally means night. They usually perform in large groups of 8 to 30 people accompanied by musical instruments, in particular drums, rattles, and the xylophone, all the while maintaining their anonymity by wearing masks like this example. When they make special appearances at memorials to members, they are especially impressive and received with awe and reverence!
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private American collection
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#170824
- Condition: Chips, nicks, scratches, and abrasions throughout. Old inactive insect holes to surface. Some small areas of loss to bottom periphery. Great remaining detail and patina.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |