A bronze pipe about 70 cm high from the Mabouo chiefdom in the Sultanate of Foumban, Cameroon. A seated figure under a broad lattice headdress forms the lower part, and a long, smooth stem rises above it.

1. Form and Casting

The pipe is built around a human figure. It sits on a low round foot, wide-eyed, with a beaded collar at the neck, and holds a short rod with a ball at each end across its body in both hands. A broad, rounded headdress of open lattice, pierced and knotted at the crossings, covers the head like a wide hat. Behind it, a smaller figure sits against the stem, holding a curved horn in one hand and a ball in the other, and a fine lattice pattern runs around the stem at this point. Above, the stem continues as a plain, smooth tube to a narrow mouthpiece.

2. Use and Context

According to the collection catalogue, bronze prestige pipes of this kind were generally not smoked. They were set up in the audience hall beside the chief's throne, as an expression and visible sign of his wealth. The pipe comes from the Mabouo chiefdom in the Sultanate of Foumban.

3. Surface

The bronze is dark brown to nearly black, with a slightly lighter, worn tone on the raised parts of the face and collar. The lattice and the small figure keep their fine detail. The long stem is smoothly finished.

Summary

A tall Bamum prestige pipe in bronze whose seated figure and lattice headdress carry the chief's display of wealth beside the throne.