Rare Cameroon Elephant Effigy w/ Cowrie Shells & Beads

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Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art

By Artemis Fine Arts

May 1, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-05-01 10:00:00 2025-05-01 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethno-fine-art-19334
Showcasing an extraordinary array of artifacts and art, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial treasures, fossils, fine and visual arts, and more! All ancient items are ethically sourced and legally available for sale. Enjoy the ease of in-house shipping for a seamless experience! Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Central Africa, Cameroon, Bamileke / Bafou culture, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A rare and striking wooden elephant figure, meticulously adorned with hundreds of cowrie shells and multicolored glass beads. The sculpture is carved from a solid wood base and overlaid with woven fiber material, to which the decorative elements are sewn. Although the precise origin, function, and cultural context of this piece remain undocumented, its stylistic characteristics strongly align with artistic traditions of Cameroon, particularly those associated with the Bafou people. A similar cowrie-covered elephant figure was loaned and exhibited at the Musee du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris as part of the exhibition "On the Route of Cameroon's Chiefdoms," where it was described as originating from a community heritage house of a Bafou chiefdom. Size: 22" L x 6" W x 21" H (55.9 cm x 15.2 cm x 53.3 cm)
  
  A Bafou heritage hut (or heritage house) is a traditional dwelling or ceremonial structure associated with the Bafou, a subgroup of the Bamileke ethnic group of the western highlands of Cameroon. These architecturally distinctive structures serve as powerful symbols of lineage, authority, and ancestral reverence, often functioning as sacred repositories for ritual objects used in ancestral worship, initiation ceremonies, and council gatherings. In this cultural context, the elephant is a potent emblem of royalty, wisdom, and spiritual authority. Effigies and masks in the likeness of elephants are traditionally used in royal rituals and masquerades, reinforcing the animal's association with power and sacred leadership.
  
  Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.
  
  SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)
  
  PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions.
  
  #193673

  Condition

  Losses to fabric layer holding the shells in place on the trunk with loose shells dangling from threads as shown. Missing some shells in a few other areas of the body. Dark mineral deposits throughout.
• Shipping Info

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