Head-crest Mask
Grasslands, Cameroon
19th-early 20th century
Provenance: Alfie Sheinberg, New York. Noble and Jean Endicott, New York, acquired from above in the 1970’s
Published: “Wild Spirits Strong Medicine: African Art and the Wilderness”, 1989, fig. 107
Bird masks are often worn with large dramatic feathered costumes. On the bottom of this mask, small apertures surround the head-cap, indicating where the costume would have been attached. The schematic, angular treatment of this bird mask is more closely related to the two-dimensional graphic reduction of Cameroon royal symbols. Of note at the end of the mask, the bird appears to transform into an elephant head, this is seen more clearly when viewing this section of the mask vertically. This example is clearly a very early example, and is in excellent condition for its age. The surface is varied and heavily encrusted.
Head-crest Mask
Grasslands, Cameroon
19th-early 20th century
Provenance: Alfie Sheinberg, New York. Noble and Jean Endicott, New York, acquired from above in the 1970’s
Published: “Wild Spirits Strong Medicine: African Art and the Wilderness”, 1989, fig. 107
Bird masks are often worn with large dramatic feathered costumes. On the bottom of this mask, small apertures surround the head-cap, indicating where the costume would have been attached. The schematic, angular treatment of this bird mask is more closely related to the two-dimensional graphic reduction of Cameroon royal symbols. Of note at the end of the mask, the bird appears to transform into an elephant head, this is seen more clearly when viewing this section of the mask vertically. This example is clearly a very early example, and is in excellent condition for its age. The surface is varied and heavily encrusted.