Mupo Bamileke figure, Grassland, Cameroon - Lot 27

Mupo Bamileke figure, Grassland, Cameroon First half of the 20th century Carved wood, hair Height: 17 cm Provenance : Maine Durieu Collection, Paris Private collection, Paris --- Figure Mupo Bamileke, Grassland, Cameroon First half of the 20th century Carved wood, hair Height: 17 cm Source: Maine Durieu Collection, Paris Private collection, Paris Mu'po effigies played an essential role in the Bamiléké ritual sphere, as multiple instruments in the service of the sacred. In turn warrior amulets, protectors of hunters, guardians of the harvest or companions of Ku'n'gan mask wearers, they also embodied, for pregnant women, a promise of fertility and protection. Our effigy illustrates this formal language with dynamism and intensity: knees bent, arms folded against a powerfully modeled belly, and an expressive face, animated by large almond-shaped eyes and a half-open mouth turned skyward. Combining roundness of form and angularity of line, the overall effect is one of controlled inner tension, the aesthetic signature of Bamiléké votive sculptures. Plural instruments serving the sacred, the mu'po effigies played a crucial role in the ritual sphere of the Bamiléké. At different times, they acted as warrior amulets, protectors of hunters, guardians of the harvest, or companions of those bearing Ku'n'gan masks. They also represented, for pregnant women, a promise of fertility and protection. Our effigy dynamically and intensely illustrates this formal language: knees bent, arms folded against a strongly modeled belly, and an expressive face animated by large almond-shaped eyes and an open mouth, turned toward the sky. Combining the roundness of the forms and the angularity of the lines, the whole conveys a controlled inner tension, an aesthetic signature of the Bamiléké votive sculptures. Slight wear and differences in patina at the object's friction points, notably on the hands, knees, mouth and nose. Small missing part and slight crack on the left ear. Slight gaps and differences in patinas at the friction points of the object, especially on the hands, knees, around the mouth and nose. Small missing part and slight crack on the left ear.