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three different colored wooden sculptures on stands with a black backgrounda green and red wooden sculpture with a cactus on top of ita close up of a green and red sculpture on a black standa close up of a wooden sculpture of a cactus on a stand
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363 - BAMILÉKÉ, Cameroon, 20th century.
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Estimate €1,500 - €2,500
Sale commission
Description
BAMILÉKÉ, Cameroon, 20th century. A set of three dance hoods decorated with stylised faces of bold proportions, featuring eyes, noses and mouths in high relief; some with beaded teeth and others with half-closed expressions. The surface is entirely covered with a polychrome beadwork design arranged in geometric patterns, alternating between diamond shapes, chevrons and stylised floral motifs, punctuated by dotted lines. The contours of the face and the large circular ears are highlighted by a fabric headband, emphasising the frontal orientation and visual presence of the whole. Fabric, multicoloured beads, signs of wear. Height: 96–132 cm. Used during ceremonial dances, this hood forms part of the vast corpus of Bamileke masquerades associated with prestige, authority and symbolic powers. The richness of the beaded decoration emphasises the patron’s status, whilst the presence of saurians – animals associated with regeneration and protection – reinforces the apotropaic dimension of the ensemble.
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About the sale PRESTIGE - CLASSICAL CENTURIES - VAYRES CASTLE
Auction location
Auction time 10/18/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures modified on 09/29/2026 at 12:15 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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