Three Decorative Beaded Palm Wine Vessels, Cameroon Grasslands

View Similar Items

Early 20th Century Palm Wine Vessel

19th Century Hammer Currency, Ensuba, Bafia People, Cameroon

Nigerian Nupe Vessel Support

Bura Spirit Vessel, c. 1900

Terracotta Bura Spirit Vessel, c. 1900

African Nupe Terracotta Vessel Support, c. 1900

Beaded Royal Headress with Leopard Figure, Bamileke People, Cameroon

Peruvian Amazonian Fine Old Shipibo Pottery Vessel

Kuba Beaded Laket Prestige Cap

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 11

Three Decorative Beaded Palm Wine Vessels, Cameroon Grasslands

About the Item

In the past the Royal ritual palm wine vessel or calabash (ethnic names: n’tu, m’ba, koko, nimbo or ugi fa) contained some of the royal ancestor’s skull debris. Today these Calabashes are empty and carried by the royal wives during ceremonies commemorating the King. A burlap cloth embroidered with European glass beads covers the entire object, imparting geometric polychrome designs to its neck, body and base. The stoppers, made of wood covered with beaded burlap and often in the shape of symbolic figures or animals, have the same abstract geometric motif symbolizing attributes of Royal Power. Examples of beaded palm wine gourds can be seen in the fowler museum (UCLA) exhibition: “Dining with Kings: Ceremony and Hospitality in the Cameroon Grassfields” that opened 12/17/2017 The collection features: 1.stopper with double headed leopard on design embroideries ; 120cm high with diameter of 33cm 2.leopard stopper on design embroideries; 80cm high with diameter of 30cm 3.man's had stopper on embroideries with caurie decoration; 66cm high with diameter of 26cm Rulers throughout the many Kingdoms in the Cameroon Grassland region (Bamileke –Bamum -Tikar) employed a range of Regalia to assert their political, economic and religious power. Presented publicly in lavish displays of wealth and power, many court objects were distinguished by their elaborate bead embroidery. Imported from Venice, Bohemia or Amsterdam, glass beads were considered a luxury material whose use and distribution were controlled by the King. The decoration of objects with vast quantities of brilliantly colored beads transformed utilitarian objects into symbols of royal status and prestige.

Dimensions:
Height: 47.25 in (120 cm)Diameter: 13 in (33 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 3
Materials and Techniques:
Beads,Burlap,Wood,Beaded
Place of Origin:
Cameroon
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Unknown
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. The Regalia were kept in the original state they were found without any cleaning or restaurations..
Seller Location:
Leuven , BE
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU330119431703