9310. Mende Gbedu Wood Mask

Southern Sierra Leone

A helmet type mask carved with a head surmounting an unusual elongated neck with numerous rings, and fine geometric carved feature along helmet 25 in. H. + custom mounted. Nice deep age wear and patina.

See Yale Archive for these notations: No. 0082440~01
Culture group: Mende
Country: Sierra Leone; Object name: Helmet mask
Indigenous name: gbetu; Medium: Wood

Charles Miller III, in 1990: Notes; that the Gbetu masks are not utilised by the Sande Society, but rather used by men for public desplays on holidays, for weddings, funerals and other special events but also, according to my fieldwork, associated in some ways to the all powerful male Poso Society. It seems that Gbedu masks are rare compared to Sowei masks, both in the field and in collections.

$4,500

All items are Guaranteed Authentic as described

More Images: