Janus headed night mask of the secret society "troh" · Cameroon, Bangwa · ID: 3034293
Description
light brown wood, thick encrusted dark brown patina, helmet-shaped, with almost identical facial features: circular eyes, open mouth with pointed teeth and inflated cheeks, one face with protruding forehead scarifications and cavity underneath the right eye, min. dam., small missing parts, traces of abrasion;
the masks of the Night society are astonishingly varied in form. Most of them show a violent facial expression, corresponding to their frightening role. Night masks remain unadorned, without feathers, mirror glass, paint or animal skin. Years of repeated libations give them a thick patina which enhances their effectiveness as emblems of the Night society.
The object Janus headed night mask of the secret society “troh” with the object ID 3034293 was part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction on March 9, 2013. The object with the lot number 394 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000 with an asking price of EUR 1,500.
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Comparing literature
Homberger, Lorenz (Hg.), Kamerun, Kunst der Könige, Zürich 2008, p. 183 von Lintig, Bettina, Cameroun, Paris 2006, p. 101