Bronze statue of mother and infant originating from the Grassfields region of Cameroon
It is made using the lost-wax casting method (cire perdue), meaning each piece is completely unique as the clay casing must be broken to reveal the final bronze alloy sculpture
These figures often depict a queen or high-lineage woman seated on a royal stool carrying a child, in a symbolic posture of maternity
It features highly stylized, bulging eyes, an open mouth showing teeth, and distinct geometric openwork ears typical of Cameroonian Grassfields metalwork
Complex scarification markings cover the pregnant or full belly, symbolizing beauty, fertility, and status
Bronze with brown patina, traces of wear and oxidation (see close-ups)
Cameroonian tribal art