Fragment of male protective figure · Cameroon Grassfields, Bamileke/Batie · ID: 3042034
not available anymore
Provenance
French Private CollectionOlivier Larroque, Nimes, France (2015)
Private Collection
Size
H: 17,5 cm
H: 6.9 inch
Description
wood, encrusted black patina, beard from real hair, spherical head with “tonsure”-like coiffure, both hands resting on the breast, neck with notched ornaments, two deeply hollowed openings backside, slightly dam., insect caused missing parts (both legs), base;
placed over doorways or near beds figures such as this one warded off evil beings. They were the works of ritual specialists. The holes were used to insert magical loading.
Comparing literature
Geary, Christraud, Bamum, Mailand 2011, Pl. 19