Cameroon Royal Court Ceremonial Food Bowl with Head and Animal Figures

A LARGE (53CM WIDE), ROUND, CEREMONIAL FOOD BOWL, ON A LOW, ROUND 4CM HIGH FOOTSTAND, CARVED AS A SINGLE PIECE FROM HARD WOOD. IT ORIGINATES FROM ONE OF THE ROYAL COURTS IN THE CAMEROON GRASSLANDS (NORTH-WEST CAMEROON) FROM LATE 1800S TO EARLY 1900S.
 
THE SPECIAL QUALITY OF THIS LARGE BOWL, IS ITS DECORATION, CARVED OUT FROM THE SAME PIECE OF WOOD. ALONG ITS EXTERIOR, UPPER RIM: ON ONE SIDE IS A THICK, ROUND HANDLE WITH A HEAD CARVED IN BAMUM CAMEROON STYLE (MALE HEAD WITH OPEN, SMILING MOUTH AND THE CHARACTERISTIC THICK CHUBBY CHEEKS)
 
ON THE OTHER SIDE IS A LARGE PORTRUDING ANIMAL HEAD THAT APPEARS TO BE A MONKEY WITH TWO ROWS OF GRINNING TEETH.
ALONG THE UPPER RIM OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE BOWL SYMMETRICALLY DEPICTED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE OBJECT TWO CROCODILES APPROACH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A FOOD MORSEL IN THE MIDDLE.
 
An amazing piece carved three-dimensionally from a single piece. An exceptional example of courtly carved art from the workshops of the royal palaces of the Cameroon Grasslands. Only the best carvers of this small kingdom were qualified to work in the palace workshops. A magnificent object of its type, with clearly visible, old usage patina. Apart from a scrape on monkeys head there is no damage.

SIZE: 53CM WIDE 23CM HIGH 31CM WIDE
 
CONDITION: ONE SMALL WOOD SCRAPE ON MONKEY HEAD. IN GOOD CONDITION.
 
NOTE I HAVE VARIOUS INTERSTING AFRICAN ARTIFACTS ON AUCTION THIS WEEK. STRANGE WOODEN CARVED BOWLS AND GOURDS TO OLD AFRICAN POTTERY LAMPS AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. ALSO AN AFRICAN LUBA DRC PIPE.
 
PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER ITEMS LISTED. I HAVE SOME OTHER INTERESTING ITEMS ON AUCTION THIS WEEK. COPY THE URL UNDERNEATH AND PASTE INTO GOOGLE AND IT WILL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO ALL MY LISTINGS THIS WEEK. NOTE ALL MY AUCTIONS END AT 22H30 SO IT IS ADVISABLE TO PUT IN AN AUTOMATIC BID (HIGHEST PRICE YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY) EARLY.
HTTPS://WWW.BIDORBUY.CO.ZA/SELLER/3685641/ERNREX1545