Bundu Sande Society Helmet Mask

Artist Unidentified artist

CultureAfrican, Sierra Leone, Mende

Date20th century

MediumWood, metal and black raffia

Dimensions15 3/4 × 9 1/2 in. (40 × 24.1 cm)

Classificationssculpture

Credit LineGift of Reginald and Celeste Hodges

Object number2018.34.2

DescriptionJanus cylindrical helmet mask with small mouth, nose and eyes (both faces). Three Mende tribal markings (Sewa region) on cheeks of one face along with holes for ear rings. The other face has no tribal markings and no ear piercings. The mask has traditional neck rings, elaborate hairstyle, five vertical protruding braids and carved cowrie shells, 14 shells over one face and 10 over the other. Five carved duiker (dick-dick) horns and one hair bun appears on each side of mask. Metal strips attached to coiffure with small nails may indicate mask was once a gift to a chief. Raffia appears around base. Mask shows signs of use and likely dates from early to mid 20th century. Mask is in excellent condition.

On View

On view

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