Ceremonial mask

mask

Wooden ceremonial helmet mask from Sierra Leone, West Africa. Wooden helmet shape with carved face, including eye slits and metal earrings, carved neck rings, head piece with three arched projections over what appears to be leaves and vines. Painted black, some white on eyebrows. Said to be associated with the Bundu or Sande initiation traditions. The three scarification marks on the cheeks identify it as of Mende origin.