Mende Sande Society Helmet, superb Start Price USD 950.00 Current Price USD 950.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, July 16, 2008 End Time Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Mende Sande Society Helmet, superb' Description Mende Sande society helmet superb African Artifact Type of Object: Helmet Ethnic Group: Mende Country of Origin: Sierra Leone Materials: Wood, pigment Approximate Age: Early to Mid 20th Century Dimensions: Height 14.5 inches, diameter 9 inches inches Overall Condition: Good Damage, Repair: LArge crack in back, crack in side, insect damage to top (arrested.) Provenance: unknown Additional Information: This helmet was worn by members of the Sande women's society during funerals, festive receptions, adjudications, and initiation of new members into the society. The Sande, like its male complement, the Poro society, ahs for centuries been one of the central social institutions in Sierra Leone. Sande masks always have feminine features--narrow closed eyes, delicate lips, narrow noses, elaborate coiffure. Sande society masks are the only known masks danced by women in West Africa. Sande masks served to initiate, educate and exercise social control in a similar fashion to the men's secret Poro society. Masks are used by Sande Society members found among the Mende, Temne, Vai and Gola peoples of western Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The helmet masks worn by fully initiated and accomplished dancers were reported by European visitors worn as early as 1600's. The masks are known by different names among their ethnic groups, for example they are called Sowei among the Mende, Nowo among the Temne and Zogbe among the Gola. However the masks served the same purpose, to lead the young girl initiates through their rites of passage to adult status, to physically demonstrate ideals of feminine beauty and to characterize women's role in society. The bulging forehead reflects secret knowledge, the rolls of the neck reflect health and the 'cool' face establishes her control of herself. The masks are paradigms of beauty as well as validators of achievement, for the masks also mark a woman's ascent in the Sande society. They are worn with black grass costumes that completely cover the dancer so no part shows to the audience. The mask is a helmet mask and is worn over the head with very small openings for the dancer to see. Recommended Reading: Kerchache's ART OF AFRICA See AFRICAN MASKS OF THE BARBIER-MULLER COLLECTION.**022751** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!