Chamba Coiled Ring with Head

A ring, a head, and not a wasted line.

This coiled ring with a head was cast in bronze by Chamba peoples of Cameroon in the 20th century. Cast bronze ornaments of this kind were made in the grasslands of the region, where metalwork carried meaning and status. A thick, open ring rises into a neck and a small, stylized head with pointed ears. The surface is textured and uneven, golden brown with darker recesses, the kind of patina that only years can lay down.

Two inches high, and mounted on a black stand so it can be seen from every side. Small, dense, and quietly sculptural.