Object Details
Culture
Cameroon, Bamileke peoples (?)
Date
ca. 1900-1940
Medium
Wood
Dimensions
12 × 9 × 11 inches (30.5 × 22.9 × 28 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of William W. Brill
Object
Number
73.025.004
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThis mask was performed along with other animal and human masks as part of special (…)
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThis mask was performed along with other animal and human masks as part of special celebrations in Cameroon.WHERE WAS IT MADE?This mask comes from the Western Grassfields, an area in Cameroon. There are many small kingdoms in this region of Cameroon who have maintained close ties. Trading, gifting, and stylistic borrowing of masks and figures can make it difficult to attribute an object to a particular kingdom. HOW WAS IT MADE?Beginning with a fresh wood block, artists in the Grassfields area of Cameroon use a variety of adzes, chisels, and hammers to carve masks and other figures. HOW WAS IT USED?This female helmet mask would have been danced in a masquerade along with other animal and human masks. Together, these masks form a group controlled by either an important lineage or a regulatory society called the Kwifoyn. The group of masks was likely produced by a single artist and danced on a single occasion, such as a funeral. The masquerade follows a loose structure in which a male leader mask is followed by female masks, and other male and animal masks. Ideally, the masquerade concludes with a second leader mask, such as the powerful elephant mask.WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS?You may wonder why the Museum calls this mask a female mask. It is not easy to distinguish between male and female masks of the Western Grassfields; both types have bulbous eyes, large noses, and exposed teeth. However, most female masks feature a smaller, tight coiffure, in contrast to the distinctive caps or large, more elaborate structured headdresses on male masks. Looking at the coiffure of this mask, notice that it is relatively simple, rather than large and elaborate.Although a helmet mask usually encases the head of the masquerade dancer, helmet masks of the Western Grassfields do not have eyeholes and are worn tilted back on the dancer’s head.To see other masks from the Grassfields area of Cameroon within the Johnson Museum’s Collection, search for object numbers 82.110.004 and 82.079.004 in the keyword search box.
