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171
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Mende helm-mask attributed to the "Master of Nguabu" Sierra …
See original version (French)
171
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Mende helm-mask attributed to the "Master of Nguabu" Sierra …
See original version (French)
Estimate €800 - €1,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Mende helm-mask attributed to the "Master of Nguabu" Sierra Leone, wood, H.40cmxW.25cm. Known as a sowei or ndoli jowei, this helm mask was worn by the leaders of Sande society during initiation rituals marking the passage of young girls to adulthood. It embodies the Sande guardian spirit, a protective entity associated with the education and moral training of women, and serves as a vehicle for an ideal of feminine beauty. The remarkable finesse of the work exalts the aesthetic traits most valued by the community, and bears witness to exceptional sculptural mastery.
See original version (French)
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