Bamileke Royal Fon Headpiece With Ndop Cloth Cameroon Sidley Collection

A beautifully designed sculptural headpiece with buttress-like extensions. In the Cameroon Grasslands region hats are made in a wide variety of media such as vegetable fiber, cotton, and feathers, and in different shapes. This one is made with Ndop cloth. Made from cotton dyed with indigo using a resist-dye technique, the cloth features a meticulous process where handspun cotton strips are woven, sewn together, and tightly stitched with raffia before being dyed in indigo. The large, decorative textiles, adorned with patterns related to royalty, including ground plans of royal courts and animals symbolizing political power, were initially used in royal courts and later extended to notabilities. With primary uses tied to the symbolism of chiefly power, status, and funerary rituals, these textiles became integral in official ceremonies, symbolizing the king's power.

The Grasslands is dominated today by three large cultures: the Bamun, Bamileke, and the Bamenda Tikar. Each village is led by a primary Fon, or chief. All people in the area are expected to pay allegiance to this leader. Each Fon is selected by his predecessor, based on the dominant lineage within that community. The chief is served by a council of elders, who advise him on all important decisions and who also play an important role in the selection of the next Fon. Most chiefs serve for a lifetime, abdicating the throne only when near death. 

Provenance: Niña Sidley Collection

After a long career in publishing, Niña Sidley returned to her first love: collecting the art, artifacts, and textiles of the world’s indigenous peoples. Part of her mission has been to educate others and to honor the extraordinary creativity, ingenuity, and heartfelt messages these handmade works send from their makers. Niña believes this deep respect for tradition and beauty inspires and ties all of us together as one world.

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