West/Central Africa, Cameroon, Bamum / Bamileke, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A pair of carved wooden trumpets for ceremonial and royal use with figures and incised motifs across the surface. The wood shaped into a curving and tapering like a pair of elephant tusks. The side horn (oko) instrument is played by the player vibrating / buzzing their lips into the mouth hole located near the midsection. The wider end has an opening that leads into the hollow interior. When not in use these trumpets could be displayed upright as sculptures that promote the Fon's ancestral lineage and prestige. The chieftain or king, sometimes known as a Fon, is often surrounded by carvings and statues of ancestral figures, and often flanked by elephant tusks. Size along the curve: 48" L x 5.5" W (121.9 cm x 14 cm); 42" H (106.7 cm) on included custom stand.

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Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#135700

Old inactive insect holes across the surfaces, and losses due to insects. Large loss on the front midsection of one. Chips, abrasions, and stable pressure fissures throughout. Nice patina to both. Dust and mineral deposits in recessed areas.