MAKONDE HELMET MASKS, Tanzania

These Makonde masks have been vetted as authentic.

MAKONDE STYLE HELMET MASKS

Despite their appearance and patina, we believe the heads below were probably made to be sold.

Makonde style Mask 11 8.5" high SOLD

Makonde style Mask 18 9" high $400

Makonde style Mask 21 8" high $400

Makonde style Mask 22 9" high $400

Makonde style Mask 24 9" high $550

Photographs © Hamill Gallery

MAKONDE STYLE HELMET MASKS, Tanzania

These unusually realistic heads include strong, portrait-like features, real human hair applied in shaved patterns and raised facial scarification. Masks like these represented an ancestral spirit in initiation ceremonies and served to express their moral code.

"In older masks the coiffure consists of inset human hair and scarifications carved on the face. Worn by young boys over the upper half of their head, the wearer actually looking through the set of teeth, they are worn during the dances they performafter completing their circumcision rites of initiation.  Boys are initiated at an early age in Mozambique, which may explain why the helmet itself is small."  Bonham's catalog 20065 (African, Oceanic & Pre-Columbian Art, 2012)

GO TO MASKED, I ADVANCE EXHIBITION PAGE

GO TO MAKONDE HELMET MASKS ARCHIVES PAGE (ALL SOLD)

GO TO MAKONDE BODYMASKS PAGE 2

GO TO MAKONDE BODYMASKS ARCHIVES PAGE (ALL SOLD)