The Bassa people, who live in the vicinity of Monrovia, can be considered a transitional species between the Dan in the southeast and the Mende in the northwest. The Bassa are known mainly 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 discretion of its decoration, in contrast to the usual Mende type, which is generally overloaded with baroque ornamentation, especially after the growing European influence. Provenance: Raquel Montagut (Galería Akwaba) Argiles collection, Barcelona