HELMET MASK MADE FROM SINGLE PIECE OF BLACK POLISHED WOOD. HUMAN FACE ALMOST COMPLETELY TAKEN UP BY HIGH FOREHEAD. SMALL NOSE, DOWNCAST EYES, POINTED CHIN. SMALL EARS HIGH UP ON HEAD. THREE RINGS AROUND NECK. ELABORATE COIFFURE, TWO ROWS OF GEOMETRIC DESIGNS ON TOP OF WHICH IS HEADPIECE IN FOUR PARTS WITH GEOMETRIC DESIGNS, OPEN IN MIDDLE, TOPPING THIS IS SECTION WITH VARIOUS ROUNDED KNOBS. CHRISTINE KREAMER, RESEARCH ASSISTANT, COMMENTS: HELMET MASKS OF THIS TYPE ARE THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF WOODEN MASKS WORN BY WOMEN IN WEST AFRICA. THEY APPEAR IN MANY CONTEXTS, MOST NOTABLY IN INITIATIONS TO THE WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION. THE MASKS EPITOMIZE IDEAL FEMININE BEAUTY, AND ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A WATER SPIRIT. THE RINGS CARVED AROUND THE NECK SIGNIFY RIPPLES ON THE WATER. PROJECTIONS FROM TOP OF HEAD RECALL PROVERBS THAT REFLECT ASPECTS OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION, MYTH AND SPIRITUAL BELIEFS. THE COLLECTOR IDENTIFIES IT AS A BUNDU MASK.
