Skip to main content

Mende Helmet Mask

Mende Women's Helmet Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
This helmet mask created by the Mende people of Sierra Leone was made for the women of their tribe
Category

Mid-20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Masks

Materials

Wood

Mende Women's Helmet Mask
Mende Women's Helmet Mask
$1,280
H 15 in W 7.5 in D 10 in
African Mende Carved Wood Helmet Mask
Located in Astoria, NY
African Mende Carved Wood Helmet Mask, together with Segy Gallery documentation, atop a square
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Masks

Materials

Wood

African Mende Carved Wood Helmet Mask
African Mende Carved Wood Helmet Mask
$850
H 16 in W 9.25 in D 9.5 in

Recent Sales

African Mende Helmet Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
This helmet mask created by the Mende people of Sierra Leone was made for the women of their tribe
Category

Mid-20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

African Mende Helmet Mask
African Mende Helmet Mask
H 15 in W 9 in D 10 in
Mende Women's Helmet Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
This helmet mask created by the Mende of Sierra Leone was made for the women of their tribe to wear
Category

Mid-20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Masks

Materials

Wood

Mende Women's Helmet Mask
Mende Women's Helmet Mask
H 12.5 in W 7.5 in D 8.5 in
Mende Bundu Sande Society Womens Helmet Mask Sierra Leone, Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Mende Bundu or Sowei mask of the Sande Society, Sierra Leone, Africa, early 20th century. The only
Category

Mid-20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Tribal African Mende Bundu Helmet Janus 'Two Face' Wood Mask, Early 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Offered by Scott McCue Tribal African Mende Bundu Helmet Janus (Two Face) wood mask, early 20th
Category

Early 20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Mende Helmet Mask
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Carved Helmut masks of this type were made by the Sande society of the Mende people of Sierra Leone
Category

20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Mende Helmet Mask
Mende Helmet Mask
H 11.5 in W 10.5 in D 9 in
Mende Bundu Sande Society Womens Helmet Mask Sierra Leone, Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Mende Bundu or Sowei mask of the Sande Society, Sierra Leone, Africa, early 20th century. The only
Category

Mid-20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Mende Helmet Mask from Sierra Leone
Located in Cambridge, MA
A Sande society helmet mask from the Mende people of Sierra Leone, ca. 1950. Unusual in that it is
Category

Vintage 1950s Sierra Leonean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Mende Helmet Mask from Sierra Leone
Mende Helmet Mask from Sierra Leone
H 13.75 in W 8 in D 8.75 in
Rare Wooden African Helmet Mask from Mende Sande Society Tribe
Located in Sarasota, FL
A rare well carved wooden African helmet mask from Mende Sande Society Tribe living in Sierra Leone
Category

Early 20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Art

People Also Browsed

Dan Janus Double Face Protective Kinde Charm, Ivory Coast, West Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Dan Janus double faced protective Kinde charm, from the Dan people of Ivory Coast, West Africa. Used as a charm for protection, with two different faces to show the duality of the w...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Ashanti Maternal Fertility Figure
Located in Atlanta, GA
On offer is an Ashanti female fertility figure from Ghana, West Africa, circa Mid-20th century. Carved from a single block of wood, the statue depicts a female with typical coiffure ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Wood

Ashanti Maternal Fertility Figure
Ashanti Maternal Fertility Figure
$2,000 Sale Price
33% Off
H 22 in W 6 in D 6 in
Tribal Style Songye Kifwebe Mask, D. R. Congo
Located in Point Richmond, CA
This graphic Songye Kifwebe mask has fine carved lines curved over the eyes and diagonal lines radiating from the nose and mouth in classic Kifwebe form. Mid-20th century mask from t...
Category

Late 20th Century Congolese Tribal Masks

Materials

Wood

Colonial West African Baule Baoule Figure Sculpture Woman wearing loincloth
Located in Norwich, GB
An elegant African sculpture from the West African Baoulé or Baule people, depicting a young woman wearing a loincloth. Smooth black lightly worn patina.
Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

African Dan Yakuba Guard Mask Small Shells and Bells from the Ivory Coast 1970s
Located in Salzburg, AT
African Dan Yakuba Guard Mask Small Shells and Bells from the Ivory Coast 1970s Female wooden mask with rich decoration of textile elements, small shells and ceramic beads. The mouth...
Category

Vintage 1970s Ivorian Tribal Masks

Materials

Iron

Fang-Style African Painted Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
Light masks like these represented the spirit of an ancestor and were used for social control by Ngil, the judiciary association. The facial markings, abstract features and strong, e...
Category

Mid-20th Century Gabonese Tribal Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Fang-Style African Painted Mask
Fang-Style African Painted Mask
$1,580
H 24.5 in W 9.5 in D 7 in
Early 20th Century East African Carved Headrest, Ethiopia (Kambatta People)
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Showing a crescent shaped headrest braced by flattened 'V' shaped supports rising from a cupped base, decorated overall with hand carved linear motifs and exhibiting an old rubbed su...
Category

Early 20th Century Ethiopian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat
Located in Berlin, DE
20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorative Solid wood, hand-carved, Africa probably 20th century The face mask has a device for hanging. V...
Category

20th Century African Masks

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century African Antique Wood Comb with Human Head
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early 20th Century African Antique Wood Comb with Human Head From the Chokwe Culture of Angola. A fine, old, much used comb with a glossy, glasslike patina. Of traditional form with...
Category

Early 20th Century Angolan Other Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

African Salampasu Helmet Mask
Located in Astoria, NY
African Salampasu Helmet Mask, carved wood, copper, and raffia, together with metal stand. Mask: 25" H x 10.75" W x 9" D. Provenance: From a Sutton Place Estate.
Category

Early 20th Century Congolese Masks

Materials

Copper

African Salampasu Helmet Mask
African Salampasu Helmet Mask
$2,800
H 25 in W 10.75 in D 9 in
20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorat
Located in Berlin, DE
20th Century Antique Carved Wooden Face Mask, African Folk Art. Hangable.Decorative Solid wood, hand-carved, Africa probably 20th century The face mask has a device for hanging. V...
Category

20th Century African Masks

Materials

Wood

Pende-Style Antelope Mask
Located in Chicago, IL
Masks from the Pende people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are considered some of the most dramatic works of African art. The Pende have defined an extensive range of mask f...
Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Masks

Materials

Wood

Pende-Style Antelope Mask
Pende-Style Antelope Mask
$880
H 13.5 in W 5.5 in D 2.75 in
Early Standing Bambara or Malinke Female Figure Deep Patina, Mali West Africa
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Early Bambara or Malinke standing female figure with arms at sides, heavy wear and polish from handling and use. Possibly cut from the top of prestige staff. Fine refined abstract ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Malian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Yoruba Tribal Maternity Offering Bowl Figure Chicken, Nigeria Africa weathered
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Blessed by time, an early beautiful Yoruba female figure with baby riding on back, presenting an offering bowl in the form of a chicken with a removable top. Great Yoruba mother's fa...
Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

20th Century Antique Carved Wood Mask, African Art
Located in Berlin, DE
20th Century Antique Carved Wood Mask, African Art Solid wood, hand-carved, Africa probably century Very decorative. Comes from a Berlin private collection.
Category

20th Century African Masks

Materials

Wood

20th Century Antique Carved Wood Mask, African Art
20th Century Antique Carved Wood Mask, African Art
$828
H 13.39 in W 9.06 in D 4.34 in
1950's Dogon African Dancing mask
Located in Dallas, TX
950's Dogon African Dancing mask with stand
Category

Vintage 1950s African Masks

Materials

Wood

1950's Dogon African Dancing mask
1950's Dogon African Dancing mask
$1,020
H 22 in W 7 in D 16.5 in
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Mende Helmet Mask", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Finding the Right Folk Art for You

Folk art refers to a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Vintage, new and antique folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, portraiture and paintings, carnival art, quilts and duck decoys.

American folk art is frequently valued because of the traditional skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.

During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.

Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of folk art on 1stDibs.

Questions About Mende Helmet Mask
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    One distinctive aspect of Mende mask tradition is that they are best known for the helmet masks used by the Sande society, one of the few women’s societies that are known to use masks. In most African mask traditions, they are only used by men’s societies. On 1stDibs, find a collection of Mende masks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The purpose of a Mende Sowei mask was to hide a dancer's head and body during ritual performance. It symbolizes the connection between mankind and the spiritual world. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of African masks from some of the world’s top sellers.