A wooden lidded vessel from the Madiembi chiefdom in the Sultanate of Foumban, Cameroon. Figures in relief cover it on all sides, and a carved animal head serves as the handle of the lid.

1. Form and Carving

The collection catalogue describes an elaborately crafted container, carved all around with countless female and male figures in relief. What stands out is the position of their arms: they point upwards, as if the figures wanted to support something. The handle on top of the lid is most likely a buffalo head.

In the view of the catalogue, the elegant form together with the almost splendid figural decoration speaks against an ordinary storage container.

2. Use and Context

The catalogue reads the vessel as one that received the power of a visitor to the chief. Madiembi is a small chiefdom with little influence beyond its own territory, yet it keeps customs that are otherwise associated with larger and more important chiefdoms.

According to this account, every visitor symbolically gives up his power into the vessel before he enters the chief's reception room. He then stands without authority before the chief, who may deal with him as he sees fit. When the audience is over, the departing visitor takes his power out of the vessel again and is restored to his own standing.

Provenance

Madiembi chiefdom, Sultanate of Foumban, Cameroon.

Summary

A wooden vessel from a small Bamum chiefdom, carved with figures whose raised arms seem to carry the lid, and used, according to the collection catalogue, to hold a visitor's power during an audience.