Cultural Heritage Object Description

Emily Wros

October 12, 2019

Bundu/Sande Society Mask, Dance Headdress with Capelet

Summary

Sande societies are women’s secret societies in the Central West Atlantic Region of Africa. Masks like this cultural heritage object are worn at initiation ceremonies celedrating a successful transition to womanhood. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sande_society)

Basic Identification

Spurlock Accession Number

2000.18.0001A

Materials

Hair (AAT: 300011814)

Raffia (AAT: 300014051)

Lacquer (AAT: 300014916)

Wood (AAT: 300011914)

Methods of creation

Carving (AAT: 300053149)

Drilling (AAT: 300053151)

Lacquering (AAT: 300053796)

Braiding (AAT: 300053638)

Measurements

Width 21.3 cm.

Depth 23.7 cm.

Height 44.9 cm.

Mass 1235 grams.

Provenance

Geographic origin

Africa, West, Sierra Leone

Time of origin/creation

19th-20th century CE

Current owner

University of Illinois Spurlock Museum

Custody transfer events

Acquired by the University of Illinois in 2000 as a gift of Michaela and Israel Samuelly.