λ A Babanki Royal Elephant tusk

λ A Babanki Royal Elephant tusk

Cameroon

ivory, carved bands of lizards, antelope heads, webs, birds, standing figures and hyena heads, with later silver plated end mounts and a chain, late 19th /early 20th century,

68cm long.

cf. Sotheby's, The Collection of Allan Stone: African, Oceanic, and Indonesian Art - Volume One, New York, 15 November 2013, lot 90.

According to Tamara Northern, carved elephant tusks are among the paramount royal prestige insignia of metaphoric and economic value...Typically the precious medium ivory is symbolic of prestige, and as an instrument for numerous icons the carved elephant tusk becomes one of the supreme symbols of kingship.

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