Zemanek-Münster

Elephant mask "ntshen" ·  Cameroon Grassfields, Babanki · ID: 3048368

sold EUR 2,000
Provenance
probably Gottfried Künzi (1920-1979), Oberdorf / Solothurn Switzerland
Martin Gross (1922-2017), Biel, Switzerland (1968)
Size
L: 79 cm
L: 31.1 inch

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.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.


Comparing literature

Northern, Tamara, The Art of Cameroon, Washington D.C. 1984, p. 157, ill. 89


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