Cameroon Bronze Akimbo Figure

Cameroon Grasslands region, 20th century. 

The elongated body stands upright with feet firmly planted and hands clasped at the lower abdomen, emphasizing the genitalia and suggesting fertility or virility. The torso is covered with low‑relief geometric and spiral motifs: concentric discs on the chest and belly, stippled dot fields across the back and upper abdomen, and incised rectilinear patterns around the waist, evoking scarification and jewelry. The neck bears multiple stacked rings like torque collars, and the large, rounded head (with prominent ears in profile) enhances the figure’s hieratic presence, though the facial details are somewhat stylized and generalized. The casting shows a warm brown patina with scattered green encrustation and an old repair or applied sleeve at one knee

Size 12.5 inches + wood base. 

Provenance: The Iris Apfel Collection, she was a celebrated American interior designer, textile entrepreneur, and fashion icon known for her bold, eclectic collecting of clothing, jewelry, textiles, and objects from around the world.

Major museums (notably the Met’s 2005 “Rara Avis” exhibition) have showcased her personal collection, and she remained a public figure and model into her 90s and 100s, which elevated her profile well beyond design circles.