Lefem commemorative figure
Each Bangwa chiefdom is led by the sacred person of the fon who is responsible for rites concerned with the well-being and fertility of both the land and his people. Bangwa chiefs commissioned representations of themselves as supremely commanding potentates. Artists strove to capture this degree of personification through emphasizing expressive qualities of the sitter’s character through representations impressive not only from the front but also the back and sides. The vital connection between an individual and his or her sculptural counterpart was further reinforced through its pairing of the figures with relics that took the form of crania and intimate possessions in royal shrines.
This artistic landmark has been attributed to the Bangwa master sometimes referred to as the Master of the Berlin Tanyi. Its author’s sensibility imparts to his subjects a regal majesty and carefully poised serenity. This depiction and two other related ones of seated chiefs hold forth calabash palm wine vessels in their right hands with the base of the gourd balanced on their thigh. The contours of their elongated bodies are gently rounded and their features delicately articulated.
This artistic landmark has been attributed to the Bangwa master sometimes referred to as the Master of the Berlin Tanyi. Its author’s sensibility imparts to his subjects a regal majesty and carefully poised serenity. This depiction and two other related ones of seated chiefs hold forth calabash palm wine vessels in their right hands with the base of the gourd balanced on their thigh. The contours of their elongated bodies are gently rounded and their features delicately articulated.
Artwork Details
- Title: Lefem commemorative figure
- Artist: Master of the Tanyi (active late 19th–early 20th century, Bangwa region, Cameroon)
- Date: 19th–early 20th century
- Geography: Cameroon, Bangwa region
- Culture: Bamileke peoples
- Medium: Wood, organic matter
- Dimensions: H. 38 x W. 13 x D. 11 1/2 in. (96.5 x 33 x 29.2 cm)
- Classification: Wood-Sculpture
- Credit Line: Gift of Sidney and Bernice Clyman, 2015
- Object Number: 2015.753
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Grassfields artist
19th–early 20th century
Grassfields artists
ca. 1800–80
Kaka artist
Late 19th–early 20th century
Kaka artist
19th–mid-20th century
Mambila artist
early 20th century
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.