Essay mask of a secret society. Bamum, Cameroon. H 36cm, figure of a human head with typical hairline, open mouth showing the teeth and black-brown, matt patina with remnants of whitish pigment around the eyes; probably from Kom. On a metal base. With the exception of the leader's mask and the night masks, the masks of the secret societies, which mainly appear at funerary festivals, are considered harmless. Their dances have no direct religious significance; they are intended to entertain the audience and keep the memory of the deceased alive. Abrasions from prolonged use, otherwise intact. Provenance: Ex Neumeister, Auction 40, Munich November 2006, lot 198.

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