Grassland, Cameroon

Royal bowl. The Grassland Region is a hilly and mountainous area. The northern part of Cameroon has been Islamized and has no sculpture; on the other hand, the savannas of the west, the Grassland, are composed of three ethnic groups with ancestors in common and keeping old traditions. In the Grassland art objects were symbols of position in the hierarchy; their number, the materials from which they were made, and their iconography changed progressively as one descended or ascended the social ladder. In the king’s (fon’s) palace, next to the ancestral figures and the masks, one would also find prestigious objects. It has been argued that one of the primary roles of grassland rulers was in redistributing wealth derived from war, tribute, and other means; the large bowls like this one which were kept filled with presents for guests complemented this tradition.

Material: wood

Size: H. 16”, W. 23”, W. 18”