id:			153765
accession number:	1987.62
share license status:	Copyrighted
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/1987.62
updated:		2020-07-14 09:01:08.989000

Male Figure, mid 1800s-early 1900s. Probably carved by Ateu Atsa (Cameroonian). Wood; overall: 92.1 x 20.3 cm (36 1/4 x 8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1987.62

title:				Male Figure
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			mid 1800s-early 1900s
creation date earliest:		1850
creation date latest:		1925
current location:		108A Sub-Saharan
creditline:			Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
copyright:			

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culture:	Equatorial Africa, Cameroon, Bangwa, mid 19th-early 20th century
technique:	wood
department:	African Art
collection:	African Art
type:		Sculpture
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

* Ateu Atsa (Cameroonian)  - artist

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measurements: Overall: 92.1 x 20.3 cm (36 1/4 x 8 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		The Year in Review for 1987
	opening date:   1988-02-24T05:00:00
	<i>The Year in Review for 1987</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 24-April 17, 1988).

	title:		Heroic Africans: Legendary Leaders, Iconic Sculptures
	opening date:   2011-09-21T00:00:00
	<i>Heroic Africans: Legendary Leaders, Iconic Sculptures</i>. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY (organizer) (September 21, 2011-January 29, 2012).

	title:		African Master Carvers: Known and Famous
	opening date:   2017-03-26T04:00:00
	<i>African Master Carvers: Known and Famous</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (March 26-July 16, 2017).

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

* CMA 1988: "Year in Review 1987," Bulletin 75 (February 1988), p. 70, no. 180, repr. p. 60.<br>The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC (October 4, 2011 - 1/29/2012):  "Heroic Africans:  Legendary Leaders, Iconic Sculptures", figure 118, p. 130.<br>The Cleveland Museum of Art (3/26/2017-7/16/2017); “African Master Carvers: Known and Famous”.

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PROVENANCE

	probably Ateu Atsa, Cameroon
	date: 
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	citations: 	


	Charles Ratton, Paris, France
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	Pace Primitive and Ancient Art, New York, NY
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	Cleveland Museum of Art by purchase 1987
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fun fact: 


digital description: 


wall description: 
Adorned with royal attire consisting of a cap, beaded necklace, folded loincloth, and drinking horn, this figure was carved as a commemorative portrait of a historical king or high dignitary. It was kept by a secret association called <em>Lefem,</em> whose members gathered weekly in a sacred space in the forest to discuss matters related to the welfare of the kingdom. Standing in a royal shrine, the figure witnessed sacrifices made to the skulls of the chief’s ancestors. Meant to safeguard the kingdom and protect the fecundity of its inhabitants, it was also exhibited during funerals and royal ceremonies.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

	Lintig, Bettina von. "From Fontem to Berlin: The Long Journey of a Bangwa Lefem Staff." Tribal Art 19, no. 3 (Summer 2015): 130-135.
	page number: 	Reproduced: p. 130, fig. 1
	url:		

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IMAGES