Elephant mask "ntshen" · Cameroon Grassfields, Babanki · ID: 3048368
Martin Gross (1922-2017), Biel, Switzerland (1968)
Description
wood,
Among the peoples of the Cameroon Grassfields, the elephant, like the leopard, is considered a royal symbol. The use of an elephant mask is therefore a special privilege reserved only for certain lineages (kinship groups).
Wherever the elephant masks appear, they perform as so-called leader masks and occupy the second most important position after the human “kam” mask. In keeping with their status, the mask dancers move with dignity and deliberation.
The object Elephant mask “ntshen” with the object ID 3048368 was last part of the auction 98th Auction at March 26, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 233 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000.
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Comparing literature
Northern, Tamara, The Art of Cameroon, Washington D.C. 1984, p. 157, ill. 89