Mask

Anthropomorphic helmet mask from the Bekom–Tikar (?) people of Cameroon. “The facial features are rendered with full volumes, such as the large perfectly oval eyes, echoed in the relief of the eyelids and eyebrows with matching curvature, and a crescent-shaped mouth, slightly open in the suggestion of a smile [...]” (quoted from E. Bassani [ed.], Arte dell'Africa Nera, Florence–Milan, Skira, 2000). The work is part of the Bassani Collection (inv. AFR 00058 2513A).

Photo: Paolo Vandrasch, Milano; Giuliano Spagnul, Milano; Vivi Papi, Varese.

Courtesy MUDEC.