A Mende helmet mask, Sierra Leone, known as 'Sowei', wide opening at the bottom, small face with delicate features: small downcast eyes, small narrow nose, small outh and small ears; large bulging forehead, two crests on the head, the back of the head has several rolls; small holes at the bottom of the mask to connect costume to; dark wood, shiny patina; signs of ritual use. Certificate of origin and provenance. “The sowei mask is one of the most important and recognizable symbols in the ceremonies of the Mende people. The Mende are one of the largest groups in Sierra Leone. There are two separate societies within the Mende: the Poro (the men’s society) and the Sande (the women’s society). Both of these societies prepare and train young Mende people to be initiated into adulthood, but the Sande specifically teach girls the necessary skills to prepare them for becoming mothers and fulfilling the expectations of women within society. One of the most important events in the society is the girls’ coming of age ceremony, which takes place when the girls have completed their training and have successfully entered womanhood. [...]Even though the masks are worn exclusively by women, they are carved by male artists. The sowei mask is made out of wood and finished in a monochrome black color made from vegetable dye. Since the masks are worn as helmets, they must be light and comfortable when resting on the dancer’s shoulders. The masks typically weigh between two and four pounds. They must also be symmetrical and fresh looking. And because the features of the masks are representative of the Mende ideals of feminine beauty, they are small and delicate. There are three major aspects of the mask: the neck, the face, and the coiffure. The neck typically features two to three rings of flesh, which signify the Sande’s desire for plumpness, which is a sign of wealth and prosperity. The face includes downcast eyes, small ears, and a large, rounded forehead. The mouth is also small, and tightly closed, since spirits are silent; talking is seen as an attribute of the human world. The coiffure includes the mask’s representation of hair and other embellishments, such as the symbol of a bird or snake.” Source: Pacific Lutheran University, WA Additional sources: Boone, Sylvia Ardyn. Radiance From the Waters: Ideals of Feminine Beauty in Mende Art. London: Yale University Press, 1986. McClusky, Pam. “Long Steps Never Broke a Back,” In Art From Africa. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2002. Phillips, Ruth B. Representing Woman: Sande Masquerades of the Mende of Sierra Leone. Los Angeles: University of California, 1995.