Cameroon
Cameroonian

Wood
Late 19th – Early 20th
Height: 16 inches
Idiophone – Struck Directly  – Bell, Wooden

This very beautiful anthropomorphic bell has a very detailed head. It is an old item with clear signs of age and use. The golden patina is the result of many years of palm-oil libations.

A shrine is a holy or sacred site dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, or similar figure of respect, wherein they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects, such as these shrine bells, associated with the figure being venerated. A shrine at which votive offerings are made is called an altar.