BAMILEKE ELEPHANT MASKS, Cameroon

 

Bamileke
Elephant 1
35" high
$500

 

 Bamileke
Elephant 1
Back
$500

 

Bamileke
Elephant 4
40" high
$600

 

Bamileke
Elephant 4
Back
$600

 
 

 

 

 

Bamileke
Elephant 9
54" high
$500

 

Bamileke
Elephant 11
42" high
$400

 

Bamileke
Elephant 13
45" high
$400

 

Bamileke
Elephant 18
46" high
$500

 

 

Bamileke
Elephant 19
44" high
$400

Photographs © Tim Hamill

BAMILEKE, BEADED ELEPHANT MASKS, Cameroon

Despite their appearance and fine work, these masks have not been vetted as authentic; they were probably made to be sold.

These masks, with beads carefully embroidered onto cloth take the form of an important royal icon, the elephant, with its long trunk and large ears. The patterns on the front and back panels suggest another royal icon, the leopard. The display of wearing these richly embellished masks and other regalia at court ceremonies was the best evidence of the wealth of a Bamileke kingdom.

Some of the masks have lost beads. The masks were photographed on a temporary stand; mounted permanently, the sagging ears can be braced up.Only No. 4 has basketry inside the top. On some, uneven lighting causes the top to be too light. The color is most accurate in the closeups and enlargements.

GO TO BAMILEKE ELEPHANT MASKS ARCHIVES PAGE (ALL SOLD)

GO TO BAMILEKE BEADWORK PAGE

GO TO MASKS AND HEADS PAGE

GO TO BEADWORK PAGE

GO TO BAMILEKE BEDS PAGE

GO TO BAMILEKE STOOLS PAGE

GO TO ANIMALIA EXHIBITION PAGE

GO TO AFRICAN ANIMALS PAGE

GO TO AFRICAN MASKS PAGE

GO TO NEW ADDITIONS PAGE

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