Helmet mask "sowei" of the "bundu" society ·  Sierra Leone, Mende · ID: 3036505

Description

wood, matt blackish brown patina, metal applications, characteristic form: cylindrical, with a compressed diamond-shaped face and voluminous neck rolls, five-parted coiffure with elaborate decor, slightly dam., minor missing parts (chin, coiffure), drilled holes around the rim partly broken out, abrasion of paint, fine cracks;
“sowei” 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. Senior women wear these masks at the termination of initiation ceremonies in order to embody their patron spirit a persona of fecundity and grace, known as “sowei”.

The object Helmet mask “sowei” of the “bundu” society with the object ID 3036505 was part of the auction 76th tribal art auction on March 22, 2014. The object with the lot number 126 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,600 with an asking price of EUR 2,500.

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.