Headdress Item Number: Ae83 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Dark brown wooden headdress carved in the shape of a bird. Furled, striated wings and triangular tail with grooves. Knob-like eyes. Carved beneath to accept head.
History Of Use
Regulatory societies (kwifoyn) consist of priviledged males. They have some political influence and perform various rites. Often they own a mask group, or a collection of masks for use in funeral or secret rites of the society. Members wearing the masks, faces covered with cloth, assume the mask's persona. The dances are highly ordered.
Cultural Context
Funeral dance headpiece.
Iconographic Meaning
Visibly represents a bird, one of the various icons found in mask groups of the Cameroons grasslands nobles. Its association with death (bird of death) refers only to its use at funeral rites.
Item History
- Made in Cameroon
- Owned by Eric Sonner before November 22, 1979
- Received from Eric Sonner (Donor) on November 22, 1979
What
Who
- Culture
- Bali ?
- Previous Owner
- Eric Sonner
- Received from
- Eric Sonner (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Cameroon
When
- Ownership Date
- before November 22, 1979
- Acquisition Date
- on November 22, 1979
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0575/0001