RARE PAIR OF EARLY CAMEROON AFRICAN CHILD'S DOLLS
Origin: West Central
Africa, Cameroon, Bamileke People
Period/Date: 19th century
Materials: wood, leather, cloth, resin, seed, wire, hair, Cowrie shells, Charcoal paint
Dimensions: Height 11-11.75" (28- 29.7 cm), Width 2" (5 cm)
Description: This pair of expressive child's dolls wouldn't win any beauty contest, but they are extremely old and remarkably well preserved. They appear to have been made by the same hand. One has a fringe skirt while the other had a cut circle in front possibly indicating male and female? The round eyes look to have inset seed or shell, now fragmented. The red hair is attached to original animal hide. Although very brittle from age and exposure their leather skirts and shoulder straps are still intact! The applied charcoal colored paint is crackled and missing in some areas. Their feet are comprised of wire wrapped with cloth and resin, having some loss to the toes and ankles. Each is presented on a custom metal display stand. A related yet later example can be seen in Sotheby's NY, May 2009, lot 175 (Note: The Sotheby's piece is incorrectly identified as being from Sudan)
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