Helmet mask "ndoli jowel" · Sierra Leone, Mende · ID: 3042204

Name: Helmet mask "ndoli jowel"
SKU: 3042204
Availability: Discontinued

not available anymore

Provenance

Dave de Roche, San Francisco, USA

Size

H: 41 cm

H: 16.1 inch

Description

wood, dark brown patina, remains of black paint, encrusted in some areas, proportionally large face with raised scarification marks, fine grooved plaited coiffure, typical neck rolls, slightly dam., minor missing parts;
the highest ranking officials of the Sande are known als “sowei”, and the mask is known as “ndoli jowel” (literally “dancing sowei”). It embodies the guardian spirit of the society and represents Sande at all major public occasions. Such helmet masks are commissioned and worn by women, although carved by men. They are associated with the education and socialization of young females, and their excision ceremonies are supervised by the “bundu” or “sande” societies.

The object Helmet mask “ndoli jowel” with the object ID 3042204 was last part of the auction 86th Tribal Art Auction at May 27, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 171.

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