Bamileke or Tikar Bovine Headdress, Grasslands Region, Cameroon

Roger F. Azar, Paris
Sotheby's, London, Highly Important Tribal Art from a French Private Collection, June 21, 1993, lot 195
Acquired from the above auction by the present owner

Good condition for an object of this type and age. Shallow surface chip to one outer edge, about 2 inches, with fill, and some other minor surface chips around the bottom. Minor marks, nicks, scratches, and abrasions consistent with age and use. Fine varied aged patina. A metal pin glued underneath for attachment to modern base.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The elegantly faceted symmetrical horns of the present headdress are a cubistic representation of the horns of a buffalo.  In the Kingdoms of the grasslands of Cameroon, certain animals were held as important and exclusive symbols of particular lineages. The creation and use of artworks representing these animals was restricted, and masks and headdresses such as the present sculpture appeared only at occasions associated with such lineages.  According to Northern (1984: 154), the buffalo was "a royal referent animal [...] symbolic of royal privilege and authority."