Mende, Sierra Leone: A beautiful helmet mask of the ‘Sande’ women’s association.
A very beautifully carved and polished helmet mask, called ‘sowei’ or ‘bundu mask’ of the ‘Sande’ women’s association of the Mende tribe in Sierra Leone. Although these masks are carved by men, only women wear them along with black fibre costumes during processions and dances. The ‘Sande association’ takes care of the education of girls and the ‘sowei masks’ are the only wooden masks in Africa that are worn exclusively by women. Made of light brown, hard wood, dyed black and polished on the outside. With two crests in the upper section (supposed to represent the female genitalia), two horns slightly curved towards the back, a large, bulging forehead and a small face with scarification marks on the cheeks. A piece in very good condition, with patina (lower edge on the inside) and only minor age damage. First half of the 20th century; H: 45 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Austrian private collection.
Lit.: ‘The Tribal Arts of Africa’ by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, p. 25, ill. 9; ‘Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill.: p. 435, 436.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
05.11.2014 - 13:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 2,800.- to EUR 3,000.-
Mende, Sierra Leone: A beautiful helmet mask of the ‘Sande’ women’s association.
A very beautifully carved and polished helmet mask, called ‘sowei’ or ‘bundu mask’ of the ‘Sande’ women’s association of the Mende tribe in Sierra Leone. Although these masks are carved by men, only women wear them along with black fibre costumes during processions and dances. The ‘Sande association’ takes care of the education of girls and the ‘sowei masks’ are the only wooden masks in Africa that are worn exclusively by women. Made of light brown, hard wood, dyed black and polished on the outside. With two crests in the upper section (supposed to represent the female genitalia), two horns slightly curved towards the back, a large, bulging forehead and a small face with scarification marks on the cheeks. A piece in very good condition, with patina (lower edge on the inside) and only minor age damage. First half of the 20th century; H: 45 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Austrian private collection.
Lit.: ‘The Tribal Arts of Africa’ by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, p. 25, ill. 9; ‘Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill.: p. 435, 436.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 05.11.2014 - 13:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 31.10. - 05.11.2014 |