Bamileke Beaded African Sculpture

Item Details

A beaded African sculpture made by the Bamileke people of Cameroon. The sculpture appears to be made with a wood base, over which a substrate of burlap or woven cloth has been added, to which thousands of beads have been sewn, entirely covering the sculpture. The sculpture depicts a seated female figure, her face covered with vertical and horizontal rows of yellow beads, with round, black beaded eyes ringed with two rows of white beads. The open mouth has black lips and white beads to represent teeth. The ears are made of black beads. The top of the head depicts a tall headdress, or may represent an elaborate hair style, with four tall, rounded knobs, covered in black beads. The body, arms, legs and feet are entirely beaded in wide, black and white stripes. The figure rests on a round ‘third leg’ support at the back, which is entirely covered in black beads. Not marked.

Condition

Vintage or antique condition
- missing some beads along the left side of the head, and to front hair piece
- soil, grime, consistent with age and use

Dimensions

Item #

16DEN081-041