Grassland, Cameroon

Royal mask. The northern part of Cameroon has been Islamized and has no sculpture; on the other hand, the savannas of the west, the Grassland, are composed of three ethnic groups with ancestors in common. The Grassland is divided into 90 small independent kingdoms and chiefdoms, whose powers are counterbalanced by male and female societies. These kingdoms, chiefdoms, and independent villages, while largely autonomous, display considerable political, religious, and artistic unity, including complementary architecture, regalia, sculpture, and masks. This expressive mask is carved from a single piece of wood; it represents a human head surrounded with images of lizards. This mask would not have been worn by the king but would have been carried by one of his servants. Along with the other masks and equipment for political, administrative, legal or dramatic ceremonial, it would have been kept in a special area inside the royal enclosure.

Material:  wood

Size:   20”x11½”x6”

Price:  $280+$28 (S&H)                                        [#S9G3M323]