Figurally carved tusk ·  Cameroon Grassfields, Babanki · ID: 3039348

Description

ivory, carved in circumferential rows: lizard and elephant motifs allude to royal power, frog motifs may refer to propagation and increase, the stylized spider motif to peace and protection, and the human icon to the king’s retainers, min. dam., small missing parts (rim), fine cracks through age;
probably a work by the carver Bobe Ngincho, who worked in the second half of the 19th century in Babanki-Tungo, the most important center for ivory carving in northwestern Grassfields.

The object Figurally carved tusk with the object ID 3039348 was last part of the auction 81st Tribal Art Auction at October 31, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 393 achieved a sales price of EUR 800.

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Comparing literature

Ross, Doran H. (ed.), Elephant, Los Angeles 1992, p. 234, ill. 11-8