**Originally Listed At $750**

West Africa, Liberia or Sierra Leone, Mende peoples, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. A large wooden mask characterized by thin slit-form eyes, a huge forehead, a petite nose, and a lovely multi-crested coiffure with capped central crest. This type of mask is used by a female society within the Mende culture on important occasions: handing down justice, attending funeral ceremonies, and going through initiation rites. During such initiation rites, the women who are already initiated, the "Sande," wear these masks when the greet the newly-initiated as they return from three months' seclusion in the forest. In use, the masks have long costumes attached to cover the entirety of the body so that the identities of the women are not known. Often these masks combine male elements with female elements to show that the women have attained the same amount of knowledge as men. Size: 9" W x 17.25" H (22.9 cm x 43.8 cm).

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection

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#141711

Several stable hairline fissures, wear to some raised areas, inactive insect damage, and light softening to some finer details, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits and fabulous brown patina throughout.