Chamba Standing Male Figure, Based

Three inches of man, legs apart, ready for anything.

This tiny cast bronze comes from the Chamba of Cameroon, 20th century. Small cast figures were produced by the lost-wax process and carried personal, protective or ritual meaning for their owners. He has a round, flat-topped head and an elongated shield-like torso edged with finely incised hatching. The long legs spread wide in a confident stance, ending in small textured feet.

The golden-brown metal shows touches of green in the recesses. A black base holds him up, though he hardly needs it.

Brave for his size.