Male leader mask "nkam" ·  Cameroon Grassfields · ID: 3036161

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, kaolin, slightly dam. (beard), missing parts (nostrils, parting), small traces of insect caused damage, base;
“nkam” leads its mask group into and out of the performance arena, a compound courtyard or open square in front of the palace. “Nkams” dance style dictates the dance style of his group. After the mask group has filed in, “nkam” signals the musicians to begin. “Nkam” keeps somewhat apart, guarding his position as leader mask, and he determines the end of the dance by another signal, which may be placing his foot on the xylophone.

The object Male leader mask “nkam” with the object ID 3036161 was last part of the auction 76th tribal art auction at March 22, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 512.

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Comparing literature

Northern, Tamara, The Art of Cameroon, Washington D.C. 1984, p. 144