Zoomorphic mask · Cameroon Grassfields · ID: 3034608
Drouot-Richelieu, Paris, 21 Juin 1995, lot 146
Michel Gaud, Saint Tropez, France
Description
wood, blackish brown patina, almond-shaped eyes, an open mouth with strong teeth, bowl-shaped horns with grooves, slightly dam., paint rubbed off, traces of insect caused damage, missing parts at the back of the rim;
T. Northern characterizes a comparable piece as “goat mask”. Its representation is linked to the fact that the goat is the most important sacrificial animal. The bowl-shaped horns are not uncommonly configured to approximate the form of a typical prestige cap. For a comparable mask L. Homberger feels reminded of masks coming from the Kom and Oku.
The object Zoomorphic mask with the object ID 3034608 was last part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction at March 9, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 386.
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Comparing literature
Homberger, Lorenz (Hg.), Kamerun, Kunst der Könige, Zürich 2008, p. 238, ill. 134 Northern, Tamara, Expressions of Cameroon art, o. O. 1986, p. 58, ill. 48