Mask - Wood - Provenance Donald Taitt - Bamileke - Cameroon

provenance: Donald Taitt, an abstract painter from Paris born in 1930 who collected African Art.

Coming from the grassfield of Cameroun, the Bamileke , whose origins trace to Egypt, migrated to what is now northern Cameroon between the 11th and 14th centuries. In the 17th century they migrated further south and west to avoid being forced to convert to Islam and hid themselves in the forest to perpetuate their traditions.

This mask belongs to the Night Secret Society, Western Grassfields: Bamileke, Bangwa, early 20th century. A related mask is in the QCC Art Gallery, near New York.

H= 37cm, sold with a custom made stand.