Mask - Bamileke - Africa - Grand Tribal Mask (No reserve price)

Splendid and imposing African mask in solid wood, entirely hand-carved and decorated on the front with a dense and meticulous mosaic of multicolored glass beads. The geometric style and the vibrant use of colors are directly inspired by the prestigious artistic tradition of the Bamileke people (Grasslands region, Cameroon), where the beads have long symbolized wealth and high social status. The piece stands out for its generous dimensions (35 x 30 x 12 cm in depth), which confer it an extraordinary stage presence, making it an eye-catching piece for interior design and the collecting of ethnographic art.

Details of artisanal authenticity: The back of the mask is not industrially smoothed, but clearly shows the marks left by manual carving tools (chisels/axes), a testament to the original handcrafted workmanship. Excellent condition, beads securely attached to the structure. An object of high decorative export from the second half of the 20th century.

Provenance: Private collection, France.

The object comes from the personal collection of an elderly French resident, who sold the mask on the occasion of a move after having kept it privately. The work is entirely hand-carved from a single block of solid wood, subsequently stained in anthracite black tones to make the magnificent and meticulous covering stand out. The surface is in fact completely covered by a dense mosaic of multicolored beads applied in a mosaic, creating traditional geometric motifs in contrast (yellow, red, blue, white and black). In Grassfields culture, these geometric patterns and the richness of the beads symbolize social status, protective energy and vitality.