Bronze Figural Group of African Royal Family on Carrier and Attendants, Circa 1920s

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An Early 20th century Bamoun Bronze sculpture. The art of bronze in african art at the service of the King.
… Read more An Early 20th century Bamoun Bronze sculpture. The art of bronze in african art at the service of the King.
The king, a bearded figure, a symbol of wisdom, sits in his carrier chair, accompanied by two of his wives and six other figures. All the characters present the typical Features of bamoun sculptures such as globular eyes and imposing nose.
Located in the border region of Nigeria, the
northwestern province of Cameroon, Grassland is made up of several ethnic groups: Tikar, Anyang, Widekum, Chamba, Bamoun and Bamileke. Several centralized chiefdoms, or kingdoms, based on
customary associations, secret societies, are
organized around the Fon or Foh, which would have broad supernatural powers including that of being able to transform into an animal such as the python, the elephant , the leopard, or the buffalo. A religious leader, he is also a judge and a warlord.
The leaders of the Cameroonian Grasslands, the Fon or the Fo, reputed to hold treasures of works of art, including bracelets, necklaces, statues, belts, valued the founders and sculptors in the service
of the kingdom. These productions, without
which the conductor lost his prestige, aimed to magnify the role of the fon. The technique used was the cast with lost wax, the decorations varying according to the status of the recipient to whom the king wished to award a reward. The Bamoun sometimes bought works from the neighboring Tikars, who were also gifted in metalwork. From
1920, the founders no longer used exclusively for the court.
The sculpture measures 15"W x 8"D x 15.5"H See less