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Bamun Copper Necklace

About the Item

Composed of fifteen miniature heads welded onto a circular form, this intricate necklace is styled after the prestige collars worn by royalty of the Kingdom of Bamum, a pre-colonial state in Central Africa. Cast in copper alloy using the lost wax method, each miniature head is depicted with an ornate headdress, a motif seen also in Bamum masks laden with cowrie shells. Made for a tourist market, this prestige necklace is nonetheless a storied example of African metalworking.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 15.5 in (39.37 cm)Width: 16.25 in (41.28 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Style:
    Tribal (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Metal,Cast
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    20th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: CAA14151stDibs: LU820022601072
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