COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
Record
AMICA ID:
CMA_.1971.66
AMICA Library Year:
2003
Object Type:
Sculpture
Creator Nationality:
Africa, Cameroon, grassfields, Kom, early 20th Century
Creator Name-CRT:
Africa, Cameroon, grassfields, Kom, early 20th Century
Title:
Monkey Mask with Leopards on Top
Title Type:
Primary
View:
Detail
Creation Date:
c. 1900
Creation Start Date:
1895
Creation End Date:
1905
Materials and Techniques:
wood and pigment
Classification Term:
Sculpture
Style or Period:
Africa, Cameroon, grassfields, Kom, early 20th Century
Dimensions:
Overall: 33cm x 63.5cm x 41.9cm
AMICA Contributor:
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Owner Location:
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
ID Number:
1971.66
Credit Line:
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Wixom in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph M. Coe
Context:
Various kingdoms in Cameroon have royal masking societies that help maintain community values defined by ancestral law. This mask serves as a runner, a messenger, or sometimes as an executioner. In African art, animals are used as metaphors for human actions and qualities: monkeys suggest agility and talkativeness; while leopards -- the primary symbol of royal leadership -- symbolize pride, strength, speed, cunning, and beauty.
Related Image Identifier Link:
CMA_.1971.66det03.tif
Link To Source
Monkey Mask with Leopards on Top
