African Tribal Art: Large Ceremonial Mask, Batcham People, Cameroon, early twentieth century. Carved wood with pigments. This unusually horizontal example of a Tsesah from the Bamileke culture in the western Grasslands of Cameroon is designed on a symmetrical vertical axis with chiseled furrows, stylized eyes, lips, nostrils, an ovular mouth with multiple teeth and swollen cheeks. The mask depicts a hippopotamus emerging from watery depths, conveying nature’s power conferred to enthroned royalty. The mask comes with a custom made steel display stand.

28H x 34W x 12D, 55H on stand (inches).

Private Collection, Massachusetts, Private Collection, New York

Patinated, aged with some material and pigment losses.

NOTE: If documentation is not listed, the lot is sold without documents.

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