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37-1/2 x 10 x 11-1/2 in.
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Eiteljorg
(Jerry Mulholland, Cincinnati, Ohio); purchased 05 August 1987 by Harrison Eiteljorg [1903-1997] of Indianapolis, Indiana; given to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, in 1989.
Helmet masks of the Mende, Vai, Gola, Bassa and other peoples of the sub-region are the best documented instance of women’s masking in Africa. These masks are used by the Sande association, a powerful organization with social, political and religious significance. Although worn only by women, these masks, as is the case elsewhere in Africa, are carved by men.
Girls who have reached puberty are taken into a special initiation school in the bush for a number of months. During this time, they learn the secrets of the Sande association and acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for womanhood. It is primarily during this period that maskers—women who are already initiated—appear.
Masks which are owned by middle-level Sande association members embody personal protective spirits. In order to attract spirits, masks are made to be ideal presentations of feminine beauty with shiny black surfaces, neck rings and elaborate hairstyles. The masker, who sees through slits in the neck or eyes, wears a garment of blackened plant fibers.
The elaborate hairstyles represented in Sande masks resemble those worn by local women. They include amulets, cowrie shells and animal claws. In many areas in Africa, projections from the top of the head are believed to represent the wisdom and intelligence of an individual, and the pointed elements of some Sande masks may refer to this belief.
Metadata about the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s collection comes from Newfields’ records and research. In some cases, information may be incomplete and research is ongoing. Newfields’ goal is to have as up-to-date metadata as possible, therefore, this information is subject to change. Newfields collections’ metadata is available under a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) waiver, which allows for re-use without legal restrictions.
Artworks that appear in the image file(s) above may be in copyright or have other legal and/or cultural restrictions to their use. For clarity, Newfields does not claim copyright to the image files created by Newfields of artworks in the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s collection. Newfields makes every effort to ascertain the copyright status of artworks in the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s collection. Please refer to the RightsStatements.org statement above for information about the current copyright status of the artwork. Additionally, some artworks may include Local Context’s Notices or Labels that attribute cultural authority of the artwork’s heritage and data.
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