Sande society mask (sowei)
Arts of Africa
CULTURE
Sherbro
MEDIUM
Wood, pigment
DATES
late 19th century
DIMENSIONS
14 3/4 x 9 x 9 3/4 in. (37.5 x 22.9 x 24.8 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of Africa
ACCESSION NUMBER
1998.127.1
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Blake Robinson
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Form is roughly cylindrical. Front has stylized face with oval eye sockets and slit eye holes. Radiating from outer corner of each eye are seven lines. Below eyes on cheeks are incised X-shaped scarification marks. Encircling entire neck area are seven rings. Extending out from forehead is visor-like projection. Above a band of eight forms representing leather flaps with squared tops and rounded buttons, is a hairdress made up of five rows of rounded carved tufts of hair. Overall condition good. There are two old cracks: one is 3 1/2 in. long on proper right side, running from bottom to sixth highest neck ring; the other is 8 1/4 in. long, from bottom to top of "leather" flap on proper right. Old chip out of right front of visor. Old hole that has been filled on upper front right above visor. Small hole, narrow and about 1 1/4 in. long, is beneath 6th and 7th rings from bottom.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Sherbro. Sande society mask (sowei), late 19th century. Wood, pigment, 14 3/4 x 9 x 9 3/4 in. (37.5 x 22.9 x 24.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Blake Robinson, 1998.127.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.127.1_SL3.jpg)
IMAGE
threequarter, 1998.127.1_SL3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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