Helmet mask

Museum number:
5-6257
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21050006257
Alternate number:
11 (original number)
Accession number:
Acc.2288
Description:
“Sande” Society helmet mask, black-stained gum wood; at base in front is carved face; back covered with incised zigzags; sides of top covered with diamonds in deep relief; three carved hemispheres at top. Height 39 cm. see field notes acc. 2171, no. 1 for similar specimen. cf. 5-5833.
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)
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 4 titled Helmet mask, accession number 5-6257, described as “Sande” Society helmet mask, black-stained gum wood; at base in front is carved face; back covered with incised zigzags; sides of top covered with diamonds in deep relief; three carved hemispheres at top. Height 39 cm. see field notes acc. 2171, no. 1 for similar specimen. cf. 5-5833.Hearst Museum object 2 of 4 titled Helmet mask, accession number 5-6257, described as “Sande” Society helmet mask, black-stained gum wood; at base in front is carved face; back covered with incised zigzags; sides of top covered with diamonds in deep relief; three carved hemispheres at top. Height 39 cm. see field notes acc. 2171, no. 1 for similar specimen. cf. 5-5833.Hearst Museum object 3 of 4 titled Helmet mask, accession number 5-6257, described as “Sande” Society helmet mask, black-stained gum wood; at base in front is carved face; back covered with incised zigzags; sides of top covered with diamonds in deep relief; three carved hemispheres at top. Height 39 cm. see field notes acc. 2171, no. 1 for similar specimen. cf. 5-5833.Hearst Museum object 4 of 4 titled Helmet mask, accession number 5-6257, described as “Sande” Society helmet mask, black-stained gum wood; at base in front is carved face; back covered with incised zigzags; sides of top covered with diamonds in deep relief; three carved hemispheres at top. Height 39 cm. see field notes acc. 2171, no. 1 for similar specimen. cf. 5-5833.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Helmet mask, accession number 5-6257, described as “Sande” Society helmet mask, black-stained gum wood; at base in front is carved face; back covered with incised zigzags; sides of top covered with diamonds in deep relief; three carved hemispheres at top. Height 39 cm. see field notes acc. 2171, no. 1 for similar specimen. cf. 5-5833.

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