Beautiful mini terracotta heads covered with beads, handmade in Cameroon.

In the past, the art of covering masks, statues or other objects with glass or ceramic beads was exclusively for the king, his family or the notables of his court. The beads could be of Venetian origin or of local production, with recycled glass, but their symbolism was always the same and that is to show the wealth of the sovereign.

The technique of coating prestigious objects with a layer of sparkling pearls has led to an art of great expressiveness and symbolism.

unique pieces - please send DM for color options

male and female characters

xs figurines : 10 to 12 cm height

Royal Tradition and the Arts
Masquerades are an integral part of Bamileke culture and expression. Colorful, beaded masks are donned at special events such as funerals, important palace festivals and other royal ceremonies. The masks are performed by men and aim to support and enforce royal authority.
Beadwork is an essential element of Bamileke art and distinguishes it from other regions of Africa. It is an art form that is highly personal in that no two pieces are alike and are often used in dazzling colors that catch the eye. They may be an indication of status based on what kinds of beads are used. Beadwork utilized all over on wooden sculptures is a technique that is unique only to the Cameroon grasslands.
Before they were colonized, popular beads were obtained from Sub-Saharan countries like Nigeria and were made of shells, nuts, wood, seeds, ceramic, ivory, animal bone, and metal. Colonization and trade routes with other countries in Europe and the Middle East introduced brightly colored glass beads as well as pearls, coral and rare stones like emeralds. These came at a price, however. There were often agreements with these other countries to exchange these precious luxury commodities for slaves, gold, oil, ivory and some types of fine woods.