Helmet mask "sowei" ·  Sierra Leone, Mende · ID: 3038340

Description

wood, matt greyish black patina, unusual “sweet” features with laughing mouth, ornamental eyebrows, scarifications and coiffure, especially elaborate worked, superstructure in shape of four identical formed seated female figures, slightly dam., cracks, missing parts (arm of a sitting figure), abrasion of paint

The object Helmet mask “sowei” with the object ID 3038340 was part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction on March 21, 2015. The object with the lot number 108 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,800 with an asking price of EUR 1,500.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.

Comparing literature

Philips, Ruth B., Representing woman, Los Angeles 1995, p. 85 ff.

Publications

Rosen, Mary Sue & Peter Paul, Masks from West and Central Africa, A Celebration of Color and Form, Atglen, ill.. 35