Mende Bundu Mask
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- Title Mende Bundu Mask
- Category Mixed media
- Medium Painted Wood
- Dimensions 15"h x 10"w x 10"d
- Year Completed Undated
- Notes The Sande society is a well-organized female only society. One of the Sande Society’s most important functions is conducting the initiation activities that mark an individual's transition to adulthood. At the end of said process, a girl is deemed a woman and is eligible for marriage. An essential part of Sande rituals are the dramatic dances done by masked figures. A wooden head mask such as this is combined with a full body black raffia covering. The typical Bundu mask is designed to represent important female qualities such as healthy and beautiful skin, wisdom, modesty and so on. This mask is atypical as it has four mirrors (one missing) with an additional three female figures extending from the mask's hair. The mirrors serve the purpose of deflecting and returning evil spirits to the sender.
- Artist Unknown Sierra Leone and Liberia
- Credit John and Janet Yoder Collection
- Location Library Art Storage L1
- Accession Number 2022.0132
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Status
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