SCVA

Plaque fragment representing a Portuguese

plaque fragment representing a Portuguese
view: front

This rectangular-shaped bronze plaque shows the facial image of a Portuguese soldier in raised relief. The helmet shows patterning and possible metal rivets.


Female fetish figure

female fetish figure
view: front

The legs of this particular figure have been badly damaged and this suggests that it was once stuck in the earth.


Gilt bronze armlet

gilt bronze armlet
view: front

This armlet is mercury gilded and displays a high sheen. This armlet is highly decorated displaying images of Portuguese heads alternated with mudfish. There is some damage in the form of holes, possibly where the bronze has worn thin.


Standing female figure

standing female figure
view: front

This female figure stands on a circular wooden plinth showing squat, flexed legs and large, rounded posterior, with long, cylindrical arms resting on her hips.


Mask of a cow

mask of a cow
view: front

This cow mask displays downward sloping horns, with two small ears on the side of the head. The ears are hollow for about tow thirds of their length and are supported by integral rods.


Container for snuff or medicine

container for snuff or medicine
view: front

This small female torso surmounts a brass cartridge case from an Austrian or German rifle. The figure shows

Head for chief's ancestor altar

head for chief's ancestor altar
view: front

This bell-shaped head is heavily encrusted with sacrificial material, probably blood, and eggs. The vertical shaft down the centre of the head held a ceremonial rattle. The upward projection on the left side represents a feather and is carved to indicate this.


Male figure on post

Constructed from one piece of wood, this male figure stands on a cylindrical post and shows the right hand positioned at the top of his chest and the left hand resting on his stomach.


Bamileke dance mask

Bamileke dance mask
view: quarter 1

The Bamileke cluster are a group of tribes comprising several chiefdoms, with a common culture, living in the grasslands of the former French Cameroons. Some of the chief administrative/tribal areas of the Bamileke are Banfang, Bafoussam, Bangangte, Bangu, Bangwa and Dschang.


Reliquary head

reliquary head
view: quarter 4

This reliquary head displays a heart-shaped face with high forehead and a bipartite coiffure. The eyes have been inlaid with brass discs and there are two conjoining holes in the crown for the attachment of feathers. The wood is rich in colour and has a sticky surface, which is palm oil.


Miniature figure of a drummer

miniature figure of a drummer
view: quarter 4

This object shows the figure of a man sitting astride a drum surmounting a ring. His face is projected forward and this is balanced by the backward sloping coiffure. There is some damage to the top frontal part of the ring.


Fang mask in Shira-Punu style

Fang mask in Shira-Punu style
view: front

This triangular-shaped concave mask shows highly arched eyebrows with arched eye slits, a long slender nose, and an oval protruding mouth. White kaolin is evident on the face, giving a smooth matt surface finish, and red pigment is visible on the ears.


Kwele mask

Kwele mask
view: front

This flat wooden mask has a heart-shaped concave face, which has been whitened with kaolin. It displays thin cowrie-shaped eye slits, a long sagittate nose and no visible mouth. There is one perforation each side of the mask.


Drinking cup with figure

drinking cup with figure
view: front

This dual-bowled cup stands on two heavy flexed legs. An animal’s head, possibly a sheep, surmounts the top of the cup. There is patterning on both sides and wear marks are evident on the right hand side and the back, near the animal head. The interior surface of the cup is very smooth.


Wooden cup

wooden cup
view: front

This ceremonial double cup is made from wood and shows a smooth rounded shape derived from a pumpkin-like drinking gourd. The cavity within is not divided.


Jokwe sceptre

Jokwe sceptre
view: front

The panel of this sceptre has incised surface patterns on both the front and rear. The front panel has three patterns; wavy lines underneath a figure of eight pattern and topped by a geometric decoration. The reverse has a figure of eight pattern beneath a herringbone-effect.


Kuba dance mask

Kuba dance mask
view: front

This wooden face mask is painted in a geometric design in light and dark pigment with separately carved wooden ears attached to a painted and decorated hood of woven raffia cloth.


Cup on foot

cup on foot
view: front

This cup rests on a base in the shape of a foot; showing splayed toes and the heel at the rear. The cowrie-shaped eyes sit beneath two arching eyebrows, with ears sitting well back. A slim copper plate runs from the top of the forehead to the base of the nose.


Ceremonial bow stand

ceremonial bow stand
view: front

This female figure stands on a short wooden staff.

Khmer torso

Khmer torso
view: front

This female torso is simple with little decoration. Only the breasts are defined which are simply carved to emphasise the shape. Three incised lines can be found encircling the neck.