Ritually used gourd - Kapsiki/Higi - Cameroon - 1940-60

This ritual double-lobed gourd is a classic representation of the material culture of the Kapsiki (or Higi) people, originating from the Mandara Mountains on the border of Nigeria and Cameroon. This specific piece is linked to the prestigious Peter Beaujean collection, underlining its tribal authenticity and provenance.

The object is distinguished by an exceptionally rich, layered patina. The deep reddish-brown hue, partially encrusted through the repeated application of ritual offerings and exposure to hearth smoke, bears witness to decades of active use within a ceremonial context. The original fiber binding around the neck remains fully intact; it originally served for the transport of sacred oils or medicinal substances during ancestral veneration. The sober, powerful design accentuates the spiritual significance of this utilitarian object, now presented on a museum-grade pedestal.

• Object: Ritual gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)

• Provenance: Ex-collection Peter Beaujean

• Region: Mandara Mountains, Nigeria / Cameroon

• Tribe: Kapsiki / Higi

• Dating: Mid-20th century (c. 1950)

• Material: Gourd, indigenous fiber rope, wooden base

• Height: 12 cm (total 16 cm including base)

• Condition: Excellent tribal condition with authentic traces of use