Powerful wooden Janus Mambila ancestor figure from Cameroon.
Mambila figures are characterized by a heart-shaped face; red and white pigments were often applied later. They are thought to embody ancestors who, according to Mambila beliefs, are responsible for the clan`s wealth. The figures appear with bent legs and a typical enlarged head.
Provenance: Manfred Schäfer collection, ex- gallery owner from Ulm, Germany.
OBJECT: Janus Figure
ETHNIC GROUP/ CULTURE: Mambila
REGION/ COUNTRY: Cameroon
MATERIAL: Wood
CONDITION: Good
DIMENSIONS: 35×17×10 cm
WEIGHT: 1600 g