Campaign Piece, Folk Art Decorative Panel.

Campaign Piece, Folk Art Decorative Panel.
Late 19th Century.

51cm x 61 cm

Charming naive folk-art panel, wall hanging.  It features a central carved stalking, ebony lion within a circle. The words " O " BAMARA " O" and "LION" are incorporated into the design. The whole design is made up of a decorative geometric pattern composed of hand cut African ebony wood and hundreds of bone tiles arranged bone tiles of various sizes, creating a mesmerizing mosaic effect. These bone tiles are inlaid onto a ebonised hardwood panel/frame with wood spacers, showcasing a remarkable blend of materials and naivety of craftsmanship. African specimen hard wood fans or stars to the four corners.

Bamara is the name of a town in the Central African Republic, and means lion in sango, the main language spoken in the country. Bamara ghia tè asa kuè means: the lion is the king of beasts.

The lion is a powerful symbol in many cultures, often representing courage, strength, and nobility. A lion within a circle can be a way to represent these qualities, sometimes with the circle signifying wholeness or eternity and the circle of life.

In the late 19th century, British activity in Central Africa included the proclamation of the British Central Africa Protectorate (now Malawi) in 1889, driven by anti-slavery sentiment and commercial interests following David Livingstone's explorations. Cecil Rhodes's expansion also incorporated Rhodesia (Zimbabwe and Zambia) into the British sphere, motivated by hopes for gold and the desire to secure territory against rivals and Arab slave traders. These efforts were part of the wider European "Scramble for Africa" and involved territorial rivalries with other colonial powers.


A striking decorative piece of art.