Sande mask and helmet - Bassa - Liberia

The Bassa people, who live near Monrovia, can be considered a transitional group between the Dan in the southeast and the Mende in the northwest. The Bassa are mainly known for their small human masks that somewhat resemble those of the Dan but with a more prominent forehead. Rarer, but well established in iconography, are the helmet masks, which resemble those of the Mende. This example is remarkable for its simplicity and the subtlety of its decoration, in contrast to the usual Mende style, which is generally overloaded with baroque ornamentation, especially under the increasing European influence.

Provenance: Raquel Montagut (Galería Akwaba)
Argiles collection, Barcelona