Mende — Sierra Leone
19th century
Wood
Height: 19¾ in (50.2 cm); Diameter: 9¼ in (23.5 cm)
Provenance: Found in the south of France by a member of the Paris trade
Bundu masks are worn by women of the Sande society during initiation ceremonies and significant events in Mende social life, making them among the few mask types in Africa used by women rather than men. The full helmet form, prominent neck rings, lowered eyes, and elaborately carved coiffure are defining features of the type, where the coiffure here rises in a herringbone-patterned crest terminating in two horn-like projections. A row of pierced holes runs along the base of the helmet, and the surface carries a deep dry patina consistent with sustained ceremonial use over a long period.
The scale — nearly twenty inches — places this among the larger documented examples of the type, and the depth of wear and patina across all surfaces reflects a mask that was actively used rather than preserved. The south of France provenance, recovered through the Paris trade, is consistent with the history of early French collecting of West African material.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Mende — Sierra Leone
19th century
Wood
Height: 19¾ in (50.2 cm); Diameter: 9¼ in (23.5 cm)
Provenance: Found in the south of France by a member of the Paris trade
Bundu masks are worn by women of the Sande society during initiation ceremonies and significant events in Mende social life, making them among the few mask types in Africa used by women rather than men. The full helmet form, prominent neck rings, lowered eyes, and elaborately carved coiffure are defining features of the type, where the coiffure here rises in a herringbone-patterned crest terminating in two horn-like projections. A row of pierced holes runs along the base of the helmet, and the surface carries a deep dry patina consistent with sustained ceremonial use over a long period.
The scale — nearly twenty inches — places this among the larger documented examples of the type, and the depth of wear and patina across all surfaces reflects a mask that was actively used rather than preserved. The south of France provenance, recovered through the Paris trade, is consistent with the history of early French collecting of West African material.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
