An old nko pillar from a hut or a canopy for a palace or an important notable's hut, adorned with anthropomorphic representations carved in high relief, in this case a handsome, paunchy figure, a guard wearing a loincloth and carrying a spear. Some of these Nko pillars are carved with commemorative scenes, and according to Paul Germann, they may have once been cult pillars. However, according to Pierre Harter, they are generally decorated with figures or animals and are essentially decorative, contributing to traditional architecture and the prestige of notables. See Nko pilers p.92 and 93 in: P.Harter, Arts anciens du Cameroun, Arnouville 1986. Bamoun, Cameroon Wood, visible accidents and missing parts, age-old cracks, and beautiful age-old erosion covered with laterite. Height: 179cm Provenance: Hélène Leloup Collection, Paris Passed down through generations