Chamba Standing Male Figure

Three inches of slender man, slightly startled.

Chamba casters of Nigeria, West Africa, made this standing male figure in bronze in the 20th century. Small cast figures from the Nigeria and Cameroon borderlands are commonly associated with personal and ritual use. This one is thin and elongated, with a high crested head, a dark hollow for a mouth, and arms held close along the sides. The long legs split into two feet at the bottom. Gold-bronze shows on raised areas, while turquoise-green patina fills the recesses.

About 3 inches tall and barely half an inch wide. Small, long, and watching.