Mask, Bamileke; Cameroon
Wood, traces of pigment, remains of sacrificial
material; H. 15"
Cameroon royal masks represent their
owners' power and nobility. Some examples were so
massive that they were never danced but only carried
in procession. The notables responsible for their
upkeep were often other descendants of the founder
of the dynasty with particular roles in the selection
of a new chief, his enthronement, and his funeral.
The masker peers through a scarf-like fabric positioned
below the mask. The elegant carving and highly refined
features of this mask may point to it having been
created in or near Laikom.
