Standing female figure "minsereh" ·  Sierra Leone, Mende · ID: 3034997

Description

wood, shiny blackish brown patina, carved loincloth, wearing a string of glassbeads around the neck, rep. (breakage right foot tip), fine cracks, slight traces of abrasion, socle;
the rare figures of the Mende are always of female gender and they are called “minsereh”. In service of the “yassi” society they mediate between humans and spirits and were consulted for oracle. Alike the masks they are dyed in black and their necks are arranged in rings.