MENDE, BUNDU HELMET MASKS, Sierra Leone

Click on a name to see a larger image. To see more Mende masks for sale go to MENDE MASKS 2 PAGE.

Mende Mask 2 17", $3000

Mende Mask 1 15", $600

Mende Mask 6 15", $500

Mende Mask 7 15.5", $500

The masks below have been sold and are left here for reference and educational purposes.

Mende Mask 3 SOLD	Mende Mask 4 SOLD	Mende Mask 5 SOLD	Mende Mask 8 SOLD	Mende Mask 9 SOLD
Mende Mask 10 SOLD	Mende Mask 11 SOLD	Mende Mask 12 SOLD	Mende Mask 13 SOLD	Mende Mask 15 SOLD

Mende Mask 16 SOLD	Mende Mask 17 SOLD	Mende Mask 19 SOLD	Mend Mask 20 SOLD	Mende Mask 14 SOLD
Mende Mask 21 SOLD	Mende Mask 22 SOLD	Mende Mask 24 ,SOLD	Mende Mask 24 SOLD

Photographs © Tim Hamill

MENDE, BUNDU HELMET MASKS, Sierra Leone

Bundu (or Sande), a women's association, is almost unique in Africa in that it controls the use of these masks, which embody Sowo, their guardian spirit. The masks usually include an elaborate hairstyle and attempt to represent serene feminine beauty, with high foreheads, small, compressed facial features, and voluminous neck-rings, depicting the desirable full-figured woman. Originally all had a dark raffia collar and were worn with a full, dark costume of raffia on cloth.

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