Cameroonian Elephant Mask

Elephants are the world's most commanding land creatures, unsurpassed in grandeur and power. Thus elephant masks, while rare in Africa, are fully appropriate symbols of important leaders or, at least, their respected deputies or messengers. The societies that use these masks in fact act as agents of chiefs' control and as formal royal emissaries.

Elephant societies that originated in Bamileke and spread elsewhere  in the Grasslands consist of three graded ranks attained by wealth. These elephant masks, signifying kingship and wealth, were worn by the powerful members of the Kuosi regulatory society, which included members of royalty, wealthy title holders, and ranking warriors of the Bandjoun kingdom of western Cameroon.

As beadwork is associated with royalty and high rank, this Bamileke beaded elephant mask is a potent symbol of power. Such masks are distinguished by their large disk-shaped ears and front and back panels representing an elephant's trunk.

Bring a touch of African artistry into your home with this unique piece.