This is the rating and price for An Enormous Hand-Carved Wooden Helmet Mask In The Form Of An Abstract Anthropomorphic Head

Description : West/Central Africa, Cameroon, Batcham region, Bamileke, ca. early 20th century CE. An enormous hand-carved wooden helmet mask in the form of an abstract anthropomorphic head. A cylindrical neck serves as the base with an opening that extends through to the top of the head. The grinning mouth with thin incised teeth overhangs the base and bulges outward. Above the mouth are plateaued cheeks dotted with triangular cuts, and narrow ovoid eyes sit atop and flank a hooked nose, with round ears protruding on either side. The tall rounded ear-like forms make for an impressive headdress with dozen of curvilinear striations and traces of red pigment, while faint traces of white cover the teeth. Several perforations line the neck and enable the attachment to a larger costume. Grandiose masks like this example were created as symbols of status and power used by the king and other members of high society. Dancers would dance this mask during funerary ceremonies of important individuals as well as at the end of harvest celebrations. Size: 11 W x 24 H (27.9 cm x 61 cm) For a stylistically similar piece see the Fowler Museum at UCLA Mask (Tsesah) accession number: X65.5820 Provenance: Mark Clayton collection, Long Beach, California, USA, Mr. Clayton is a noted African expert and collector who recently had Nigerian bronze objects from his collection featured in an exhibition at the UCLA Fowler Museum entitled Summoning the Ancestors (September 2018 - March 2019). All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #158245
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