Mask for Sande Society
Culture | Mende |
---|---|
Title | Mask for Sande Society (Sowei) |
Date | Unknown |
Medium | Wood and pigment |
Dimensions | Object: 15 7/8 × 8 1/4 × 10 5/16 in. (40.3 × 21 × 26.2 cm) Overall: 15 7/8 × 8 1/4 × 10 5/16 in. (40.3 × 21 × 26.2 cm) |
Credit Line | Gift of Toby and Barry Hecht, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
Accession Number | 88.24.8 |
This artwork is currently on view. |
This helmet mask is used by Sande, a women’s organization, during the preparation of young women for adulthood. Specifically the mask is worn during a celebration of the completion of the initiation period. The mask is a representation of ideal Mende female beauty. As such, the mask includes specific features that are greatly admired by the Mende people. These features include elements such as the neck rings, an exaggeration of the crease that can develop in one’s neck. Neck rings are seen as a sign of prosperity, high status, and are considered very beautiful.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
Request this image
The Eskenazi Museum of Art provides images of its collection, free of charge, upon request.
This artwork is under copyright protection. You can request the image and it will be emailed to you when the request is complete.
Cite this page
"Mask for Sande Society | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=88.24.8