Images
https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=D54FACCE937EFA67E2584087B6D9F58EFFF1B4057DC66791087B6FF58A60D643&s=24247294&se=672506398&v=4&f=1985.1082_o2.jpg
https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=9A3E8E94B6078F9EFB6FB1132E1DDBD6488D991D08BF933EE49DCEEC7FEDB558&s=24247294&se=672506398&v=1&f=%5C1985.1082_o2.jpg
https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=9A3E8E94B6078F9E0E786415796360737CC49161EA44EC64A4F4053432DC46F7&s=24247294&se=672506398&v=1&f=%5C1985.1082det01_o2.jpg
https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=44F1604BAB01397C7A1C5E698CBED5E30750265BE395519F9AF9899A3AC1859D&s=24247294&se=672506398&v=1&f=%5C1985.1082det01_o2.jpg
https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=465FAEC6DADE6727C9567BE0BD4F37E5B20ABBC8E66BA2A5A04BD10112202ACF&s=24247294&se=672506398&v=1&f=%5C1985.1082det02_o2.jpg
https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=465FAEC6DADE6727F29E2128CE70DA486E5FCF51BC116BCF057A3C4C30FDE718&s=24247294&se=672506398&v=1&f=%5C1985.1082det03_o2.jpg
https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=6B8F62B1F06618D78170CCE5D738E434EBE0742490CF689B99954666EF949BE8&s=24247294&se=672506398&v=1&f=%5C1985.1082det04_o2.jpg
https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=6B8F62B1F06618D734A48B284791C9958926FE9C706D366182CAA591B0C47FBF&s=24247294&se=672506398&v=1&f=%5C1985.1082det05_o2.jpg
https://piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di?e=6B8F62B1F06618D716FED078EDF87AAB69DB343127C060D94DC60E245C047013&s=24247294&se=672506398&v=1&f=%5C1985.1082det06_o2.jpg
Jan 26, 2010
Aug 14, 2006
Aug 14, 2006
Jan 26, 2010
Jan 26, 2010
Jan 26, 2010
Jan 26, 2010
Jan 26, 2010
Jan 26, 2010
Mask (mbap mteng): Elephant (aka)
Mask (mbap mteng): Elephant (aka)
early 1900s
Cotton, burlap, glass beads, twine, leather, and wood
Overall: 139.7 x 50.8 x 19.1 cm (55 x 20 x 7 1/2 in.)
The Harold T. Clark Educational Extension Fund 1985.1082
Location
Download and Share
: Elephant (aka)&media=https%3A//piction.clevelandart.org/cma/ump.di%3Fe%3D897159929E323C5CDC37F9870E8F09AF6C6B410D1F200260F2D30EC9C18D1CA5%26s%3D24247294%26se%3D672506398%26v%3D4%26f%3D1985.1082_o10.jpg){kind=small}
Did you know?
Performers wore elephant masks with indigo-dyed robes, red feather headdresses, and leopard pelts. Leopards and elephants symbolized royal power.
Description
The name given to masks like this, mbap mteng, means "animal with huge ears." In the Cameroon Grassfields kingdoms the elephant signifies power, authority, prestige, and leadership. The colorful glass beads that decorate the mask’s surface were imported from Venice and Bohemia (in Europe) and signal wealth and prosperity. Members of Kuosi, an exclusive male secret society, wore such elephant masks for ritual dances and funerary ceremonies.
Contact us
The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.
To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.
All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.