Antique Hand Carved Cameroonian Batcham Headdress

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Antique Hand Carved Wooden Cameroonian Batcham Headdress. The headdress itself is a representation of a hippopotamus emerging from water. The … Read more Antique Hand Carved Wooden Cameroonian Batcham Headdress. The headdress itself is a representation of a hippopotamus emerging from water. The curved line pattern that vertically extend most likely is the rippling of the water. In good condition with scratches and wear throughout. Please refer to pictures for details.

Size: 30" x 20" x 7"

Batham is a small Bamileke kingdom in the northwest region of the Grassland. Its name was given to this kind of headdresses, although they were very popular also among the Bangwa and the Bamileke. In these chiefdoms, power was held by the Fon, a king who was supported by powerful brotherhoods or societies. Batcham masks belonged to one of these societies and were designed to intimidate and to maintain social order. They were used mainly for the enthronement or the burial of the Fon or notables. It could also be seen during a special dance that was only performed at the royal residence to the sounds of ritual pipes. This ceremony marked the end of the harvest and the coming of new year. Certain authors see this mask as a totally unrealistic depiction of a hippopotamus head emerging from the water. See less