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Elephant mask
Elephant mask

Elephant mask

Label TextElephants command attention as the largest land animal on earth. Bamileke beaded elephants appear during solemn ceremonial occasions such as state funerals. They are said to whistle "tunelessly and mysteriously" while brandishing spears and horsetails. With deliberate movements, they show how the massive force of an elephant has been brought into the service of authority. Those who had the privilege to wear the masks were members of the men's associations which assisted kings in the administration and protection of the realm.
Object number93.156
Credit LineGift of Mark Groudine and Cynthia Putnam
Dimensions50 x 25 in. (127 x 63.5 cm)
MediumCloth with indigo dye, glass beads
Elephant Mask
Object number: 81.17.693
Congolese
Object number: 2001.970
Photo: Paul Macapia
Ejagham
1973
Object number: 81.17.1977
Photo: Paul Macapia
Dan
1850 - 1980
Object number: 81.17.197.1
Object number: 2001.42
Object number: 2001.43
Object number: 2001.47
Single-faced Crest mask
Nigerian/Cameroonian
Object number: 81.17.508
Cameroonian
early 20th century
Object number: 2010.45.2