MENDE BUNDU HELMET MASKS, Sierra Leone

These masks have been vetted as authentic, dating from the late 19th Century to the late 20th Century (each is identified).



MENDE
Mask 42
15.5" high
late 19th / early 20th C.
SOLD

BASSA
Janiform Mask 49
12" high
first half 20th C.
$1200


MENDE
Mask 52
15.5" high
first half 20th C.
SOLD

MENDE
Mask 84
14" high
first half 20th C.
SOLD

MENDE
Mask 58
16" high
mid. 20th C.
SOLD




MENDE Masks 71
with Raffia Collar

15 -31" high
mid.- late 20th C.
SOLD


Photographs © Hamill Gallery

MENDE, BUNDU HELMET MASKS, Sierra Leone

These masks were vetted by Daniel Mato, author (with Charles Miller III) of Sande, masks and statues from Liberia and Sierra-Leone.

Condition reports are on each individual page.

Bundu (or Sande), a women's association, is almost unique in Africa in that it controls the use of these masks, which embody Sowo, their guardian spirit. The masks usually include an elaborate hairstyle and attempt to represent serene feminine beauty, with high foreheads, small, compressed facial features, and voluminous neck-rings, depicting the desirable full-figured woman. Originally all had a dark raffia collar and were worn with a full, dark costume of raffia on cloth. Those with a full or partial raffia collar can be seen on Mende Masks 2.


GO TO MENDE BUNDU HELMET MASKS ARCHIVES PAGE (ALL SOLD)

GO TO MENDE ART PAGE

GO TO MENDE BUNDU HELMET MASKS 2 PAGE

GO TO AFRICAN MASKS PAGE

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MJM09222017