Lot 287

Pair of Mende/Sherbro Helmet Masks, Sierra Leone, 19th Century

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Pair of Mende/Sherbro Helmet Masks, Sierra Leone, 19th Century

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

Starting Bid: $300

(0 Bids)

by Lion and Unicorn
July 16, 2026 2:00 PM EDT
Live Auction
200 Oakwood Ln
Suite 200
Hollywood, FL, US 33020

A pair of carved wooden African tribal helmet masks from Sierra Leone, comprising a female "sister" Sowei (Bundu/Sande) mask and a male "brother" mask, likely associated with the Mende, Sherbro, or Loco peoples, each dating to the 19th century. The female mask features a stylized, lozenge-shaped face with raised brows and mouth, a long pointed chin, and a prominent curved crest suggesting an elaborate coiffure or phallic form, mounted on a bell-shaped body decorated with deeply incised geometric patterns including chevrons, a large rear diamond, and a serpentine motif, with remnants of reddish-brown ochre and white pigment enhancing the linear designs; small drilled holes punctuate the lower front. The male mask exhibits a rich darkened patina over the facial plane, with deeply carved vertical striations on the upper section and cylindrical body adorned with boldly incised zigzags, diamonds, and geometric motifs, some retaining traces of white pigment, symbolizing ancestral authority, wisdom, and leadership. Both masks were central to ritual and initiation practices, the female mask guiding young women within the all-female Sande society, the male mask associated with male initiation and community guidance, and are distinguished examples of 19th-century ceremonial African art. Each helmet with provenance from Sotheby's, and featured in Sotheby's auction catalog dated November 11, 2004.

Dimensions: Sister Mask: 18.00"H. Brother Mask: 15.75"H
Date or Era: 19th/20th Century
Provenance: From the Private Collection of William Hughes Hayden

  • Condition: Good

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $9 $1
$10 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $4,999 $100
$5,000 $9,999 $250
$10,000 $19,999 $500
$20,000 $49,999 $1,000
$50,000 $99,999 $2,500
$100,000 + $10,000