Cameroon Grassfields, Kom (or Bekom): A ‘Kam mask’ worn by the leader of a dance group.
In the Grasslands, in northwestern Cameroon, every village and every town has its own group of so-called ‘Juju dancers’. They perform during funeral rituals and feasts in honour of the ancestors. The cult leader of these ‘Juju groups’ dances wearing a ‘Kam mask’ or ‘Akam mask’. The masks are worn on the head, the dancer sees through a net under the mask’s edge. The present, typically crafted 'Kam mask' of the Kom people is made of heavy, hard wood and dyed black. It features hair and beard obtained from a local fabric made of plant fibres, covered with black cotton. An especially beautiful specimen of this type, with excellent, very old patina on the outside as well as on the inside! Minor age damage to the hair and beard. Early 20th century; H: 45 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Private collection, Brussels.
Literature: 'Kamerun. Kunst der Könige' by Lorenz Homberger, ill. p. 225, 237.
Additional photo:
The cult leader ‘Kam’ mask of a ‘Juju’ dance society of the Kom people (or Bekom). At the festival of dead in Belo Kom, Cameroon, taken on 24 January 1976.
Photo from ‘KAMERUN. Kunst der Könige' by Lorenz Homberger
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
24.03.2014 - 16:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 4,000.- to EUR 5,000.-
Cameroon Grassfields, Kom (or Bekom): A ‘Kam mask’ worn by the leader of a dance group.
In the Grasslands, in northwestern Cameroon, every village and every town has its own group of so-called ‘Juju dancers’. They perform during funeral rituals and feasts in honour of the ancestors. The cult leader of these ‘Juju groups’ dances wearing a ‘Kam mask’ or ‘Akam mask’. The masks are worn on the head, the dancer sees through a net under the mask’s edge. The present, typically crafted 'Kam mask' of the Kom people is made of heavy, hard wood and dyed black. It features hair and beard obtained from a local fabric made of plant fibres, covered with black cotton. An especially beautiful specimen of this type, with excellent, very old patina on the outside as well as on the inside! Minor age damage to the hair and beard. Early 20th century; H: 45 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Private collection, Brussels.
Literature: 'Kamerun. Kunst der Könige' by Lorenz Homberger, ill. p. 225, 237.
Additional photo:
The cult leader ‘Kam’ mask of a ‘Juju’ dance society of the Kom people (or Bekom). At the festival of dead in Belo Kom, Cameroon, taken on 24 January 1976.
Photo from ‘KAMERUN. Kunst der Könige' by Lorenz Homberger
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Date: | 24.03.2014 - 16:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 18.03. - 24.03.2014 |