Rare couple of terracotta ancestor figures ·  Cameroon, Mambila, Donga Valley · ID: 3039163

Description

brown coating, remains of red and white pigment, cord, feathers, stocky bodies with voluminous breasts and neckless large heads, prominent genitalia, holes for insertion of magical substances, slightly dam., minor missing parts, rest., plate;
less is known about the use of earthenware figures of the Mambila. Similar power figures were placed in palm gardens during wine-making, although we do not know for certain whether they were used as a protection against theft or to help ensure that the wine fermented properly. Because of the special accentuation of the sexual characteristics and the navel a usage in context with fertility rites would be thinkable.

The object Rare couple of terracotta ancestor figures with the object ID 3039163 was part of the auction 82nd Tribal Art Auction on February 27, 2016. The object with the lot number 437 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000 with an asking price of EUR 800.

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Comparing literature

Grootaers, Jan-Lodewijk & Ineke Eisenburger (ed.), Forms of Wonderment, Vol. I, Berg en Dal 2002, p. 303

Publications

Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Keramik aus Schwarz-Afrika und Alt-Amerika, Zürich 1985, p. 196 f.