Deux anciennes figurines miniatures
Adolf Diehl (1870-1943), Oppenheim, Germany (coll. in situ, between 1907-12)
Linden-Museum, Stuttgart, Germany
Diehl worked as Chief Representative of the Society for Northwest Cameroon. He collected hundreds of objects on commission for the Leipzig & Stuttgart Ethnographic Museum between 1907 and 1912.
Description
wood, red pigment, each mounted on base
These two beautifully crafted figurines come from the holdings of the Lindenmuseum Stuttgart. The inventory number is handwritten on the back of both: “76021 Diehl” and “59372 Diehl”. The smaller one also bears the original label: “76021 L. 1085 1376 - Figürchen Bamenda Diehl”.
The figures were presumably used by the witch doctor “n’ga ka” for healing and divination, or they served as personal protective amulets.
Due to the similarities in face and body formation, as well as posture and hairstyle, the figures are undoubtedly from one hand.