A Mende or Bassa Helmet Mask...

Description

A Mende or Bassa Helmet Mask
Sierra Leone/Liberia, First half of the 20th century

Deeply carved facial features, animal horns, braids, and a two-part crest at top. Embellished with metal strips wrapped around horns and small ornamental pieces on the crest. A large amount of raffia is attached around perimeter. In good condition, the whole has a matte, dusted patina from a shrine context, a large piece missing from under chin, crack and erosion down proper left side of head.

Provenance:
Property from the Collection of Dr. Richard and Jan Baum, Los Angeles, CA
Jeremiah Cole, Liberia/United States

Height: 15 ½ inches, excluding raffia

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