Mende Mask
"Mende Mask, " Carved Wooden Mask created in Sierra Leone c. 1930
Located in Milwaukee, WI
This mask was hand-carved by an unknown artist from the Mende tribe in Sierra Leone, Africa. It
Category
1930s Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
H 16 in W 10 in D 10.5 in
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 Helmut Mask
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An early 20th century example.
The masks of the Sande society were used exclusively in masquerade
Category
Early 20th Century African Mounted Objects
Materials
Wood
African Mende Helmut 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
Recent Sales
A Mende Sowei Mask
Located in Paris, ile de france
a Mende Sowei Mask,Sierra Leone : The Sande society is exclusively a womans society responsible for
Category
Vintage 1930s Sierra Leonean Sculptures
Materials
Wood
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
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
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
H 16 in W 8.5 in D 10 in
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 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
Mid-20th Century Tribal Bundu Mende Mask, Sierra Leone
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful and historically fascinating, this tribal Mende mask will make the perfect addition to
Category
Mid-20th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Masks
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
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
Wooden African Tribal Helmet/Mask
Located in Sarasota, FL
Wooden Tribal Mask from the Mende Tribe of Sierra Leone, Africa. Rich, deep brown in color.
Category
Antique 19th Century Sierra Leonean Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
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Antique Polychrome African Wood Carving from Igbo Nigeria
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Antique Polychrome Wood Carving Igbo Nigeria Africa, Staff decorated with two figures, mounted as a finial on the shaft terminating in a triangular-shaped polychrome element Nigeria,...
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Expressive Early Classic Cubist Dan Mask Early 20th Century Liberia, ex Sothebys
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Expressive early classic cubist Dan mask with refined expressive look, narrow open eyes and mouth and fine line scarification marks around outside of face. Created early 20th century...
Category
Early 20th Century Liberian Tribal Masks
Materials
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H 9.5 in W 5.75 in D 3.75 in
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
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African Tribal Yoruba, Nigeria Rider Figure Offering Bowl Early 20th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
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Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
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Ashanti Mother and Child Maternity Figure Carved by Osei Bonsu, Ghana
By Osei Bonsu
Located in Austin, TX
A fine Ashanti maternity figure by the master carver Osei Bonsu. The mother figure is seated on a simple backless chair. An infant lays calmly in her lap, one arm reaching towards a ...
Category
Vintage 1930s Ghanaian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
Poto African Iron Sword, Congo Africa on Stand
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Poto African sword, Congo Africa on stand.
A forged iron sword with fine incised design, inlaid brass dots, overlaid brass strips, finely carved wood handle with deep patina. Some c...
Category
Early 20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
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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
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Category
Early 20th Century Angolan Other Tribal Art
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Wood
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Located in Norwich, GB
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Category
Mid-20th Century Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Wood
H 17.33 in W 2.76 in D 3.55 in
Kota Reliquary Figure Gabon, Christies Provenance
Located in Sharon, CT
Kota Reliquary of classic form. Brass and iron over wood. On an old base, with an old number label. Ex Estate of Willliam Kohler, Christies NY 'Important Tribal Art' Nov 20 1997.
Category
Antique 1890s Gabonese Primitive Tribal Art
Materials
Brass, Copper, Iron
Ere Ibeji Pair of Commemorative Figures, Ife, Yoruba People Nigeria early 20th C
By Yoruba People
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Yoruba people have one of the highest incidents of twin births in the world. As a result, twin children are regarded as extraordinary, divine beings protected by Sango, the deity of ...
Category
Early 20th Century Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
H 9.45 in W 3.15 in D 2.76 in
African Nigeria Epa Helmit Mask with Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Epa helmet mask, Nigeria, Africa.
Fully carved mother and child; painted red and black with touches of white;
Provenance: The Children's Museum of Indianapolis; The Eiteljorg Mu...
Category
Vintage 1950s Nigerian Tribal Tribal Art
Materials
Wood
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
H 10.5 in W 2 in D 2.5 in
Very Important “Nwantantay” African Dance Mask
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
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Category
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Located in Atlanta, GA
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Category
Mid-20th Century Ghanaian Tribal Figurative Sculptures
Materials
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Located in Ottawa, Ontario
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Category
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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
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Materials
Wood
H 17.75 in W 13 in D 13 in
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Mende Mask For Sale on 1stDibs
Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the mende mask you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, every mende mask was constructed with great care. There are many kinds of the mende mask you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 20th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. Each mende mask bearing hallmarks is very popular.
How Much is a Mende Mask?
The average selling price for a mende mask at 1stDibs is $2,500, while they’re typically $880 on the low end and $10,125 for the highest priced.
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 Mask
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022One 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, 2022The 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.
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