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A dark wooden helmet mask featuring a small top crest, pointed side projections, and incised chevron patterns on the coiffure. A small, stylized face with narrow eyes and a nose is carved above the neck carved with neck rolls.
Helmet Mask
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Helmet Mask

Maker Mende Artist
Dateundated
Place of originSierra Leone, Africa
MediumWood
Dimensions14 x 9 1/8 x 9 7/8 in. (35.6 x 23.2 x 25.1 cm)
ClassificationsClothing and accessories
Credit LineGift of Rod McGalliard
Object number1993.12.19
Collections
Visual DescriptionA dark wooden helmet mask featuring a small top crest, pointed side projections, and incised chevron patterns on the coiffure. A small, stylized face with narrow eyes and a nose is carved above the neck carved with neck rolls.

A dark wooden helmet mask featuring five crests in the coiffure and crescent-shaped side projections. A small, stylized face with narrow eyes and a nose is carved above carved neck rolls.
Helmet Mask
Mende Artist
undated
Mask with neck rolls, scarifications, plaited coiffure with dentate carving, and a glossy darkened surface.
Helmet Mask
Mende Artist
undated
With neck rolls, elaborately plaited coiffure, fiber attachment, and blackened surface.
Helmet Mask (sowei)
Mende Artist
20th century
With neck rolls, elaborately plaited coiffure, white metal attachments, fiber attachment, and blackened surface.
Mende Wood Sande Helmet Mask (sowei)
Mende Artist
undated
With neck rolls, elaborately plaited coiffure, and blackened surface.
Helmet Mask (sowei)
Mende Artist
20th century
With neck rolls, scarifications, elaborate coiffure, and blackened surface.
Mende Wood Sande Helmet Mask (sowei)
Mende Artist
undated
Mask with neck rolls, scarifications, elaborately plaited coiffure topped with a down-turned pot, and a glossy darkened surface.
Sande Society Mask (sowei)
Mende Artist
20th century
A carved dark wooden mask featuring a rough, light-colored material on top for the hair. It has incised chevron patterns on the forehead, diagonal cheek markings, narrow eyes, a short broad nose, carved ears, and wide, prominent closed lips.
Gelede Male Mask
Makonde Artist
undated
With neck rolls, cheek scarifications, elaborately plaited coiffure, and a glossy darkened surface
Helmet Mask
Vai Artist
20th century
A carved dark wooden mask with an elongated face and a prominent, tiered coiffure. It features small rectangular eyeholes, a long, narrow nose, protruding semi-circular ears, and a small rectangular mouth with carved teeth near a pointed chin.
Mask
Bamana Artist
undated
A carved dark wooden sculpture of a head on a rounded base. The figure has a headdress with two tall, pointed, textured projections, vertical lines on the forehead, almond eyes, and a long nose.
Water spirit headdress (okooro)
Yoruba Artist
undated
Mask is made of wood with skin (probably antelope) stretched tightly over the surface. Female face, with exposed filed teeth; black star-like designs on cheeks; large horn-shaped projections and small pegs inserted in top of head, blackened to suggest a coiffure; raised spiral on temples; cylindrical neck with flared base.
Mask
Boki Artist
20th century

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