Sande" society helmet mask, black stained gum wood; at base in front is carved face with eye slits; upper half divided into 4 sections each with 3 horizontal rows of zigzags; top has 4 projections around stepped square; height 39 cm. see field notes acc. 2171, no. 1 for similar specimen.
Donor:
University Appropriation and Warren L. d'Azevedo
Collection place:
Liberia
Verbatim coll. place:
Liberia; Vai or Gola attrib. (purchased in market)
Culture or time period:
Sande Society [NOT A CULTURE]
Collector:
Warren L. d'Azevedo
Collection date:
1967
Materials:
Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Masks (costume)
Function:
5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama
Accession date:
1967
Context of use:
worn with black raffia costume by important woman of woman's secret society during ritual ceremony or in honor of important persons; used to impersonate sacred spirits of the society.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
height 39 centimeters
Loans:
S2009-2010 #7: SFO Museum (February 1, 2010–January 20, 2011)