Africa, Sierra Leone, ca. mid 20th century CE. A very large carved wood festival headpiece, extensively detailed with Hindu inspired decoration. The composition includes a large crowned female head presenting a tranquil expression with bold features and a bindi dot (to protect against evil) painted between her almond-shaped fully lashed and browed eyes. Her braids support two kneeling female figures who together hold a detachable pounder and a tray for preparing grain. This elaborate carving was created for masquerade celebrations by the Ode-Lay society. Size: 17" W x 36" H (43.2 cm x 91.4 cm)

The published description of this piece in Mary Sue Rosen's "Masks from West and Central Africa: A Celebration of Color and Form" reads as follows: "Together the kneeling female figures on the upper part of this recently carved Ode-Lay society head crest sculpture hold the shaft of a pounder used to prepare grain in one hand and a tray for winnowing the grain to remove the chaff after it has been pounded in the other. The sculptor has used the braided hair of the female bust in a very imaginative way to support the female figures. The female bust has Hindu-inspired decorative features that are a reference to a water spirit, Mami Wata."

The Temne people are the largest ethnic group today in Sierra Leone, and their traditional culture revolves around chiefdoms and secret societies that men and women (separately) are inducted into after puberty. Masks are used as part of the rites of moving up the social hierarchy and becoming part of the secret societies to manifest the spirits who guide individuals through these processes.

This work was published in Mary Sue Rosen's "Masks from West and Central Africa: A Celebration of Color and Form" (Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2013), Figure 101, p. 79.

Provenance: private New York, USA collection; ex Dr. Paul Rosen collection; Published in "Masks from West and Central Africa: A Celebration of Color and Form" (Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2013), Figure 101, p. 79.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#128905

Age cracks to base, neck, and coiffure of female head. Old nails in base. Normal surface wear with minor paint loss.