Helmet mask of carved blackened wood, stylized female head: West Africa, Sierra Leone, Mende peoples, c. 1976

Helmet mask of blackened wood, carved as a head with face and elaborate hairstyle, topped with a square pinnacle decoration and fringed with a few long strands of black raffia remaining at neck edge, Worn to represent the sowei spirit during masquerades performed by the female Sande Society: Africa, West Africa, Sierra Leone, Mende people

Helmet mask of blackened wood, Janus-form Bundu type, with four fat rings around neck and elaborate coiffure in panels simulating cowrie shells surmounted by five radiating flanges: West Africa, Sierra Leone, Mende people

Helmet mask of blackened wood, stylized face with two fat rings around neck, surmounted by elaborate hairstyle incorporating two horns and bird, with fibre fringe attached, worn by members of the Bundu: West Africa, Sierra Leone, Mende people, 19th century

Helmet mask of black-stained wood, stylized face with three fat rings behind, and elaborate hatched coiffure surmounted by a lunate-shaped central fin, used by the Bundu society: West Africa, Sierra Leone, Mende people

Helmet mask of wood painted in red and black pigments, in form of a head with closed eyelids, projecting ears and short hemispherical coiffure: East Africa, Tanzania, Makonde people

Helmet mask or mashamboy with cane foundation covered with cotton and raffia cloth and ornamented with beads and cowrie shells to form a stylised face surmounted by a horn-like projection, worn by men during the babendi, a series of initiation ceremonies: Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, Kuba people, early 20th century

Helmet mask with cane foundation covered with barkcloth, painted with earth pigments to represent a legendary animal: Melanesia, Papua New Guinea, 19th century

Helmet mask of carved and painted turtleshell in the form of a human face surmounted by a frigate bird, decorated with shells and cassowary feathers, used in dance rituals and funeral ceremonies: Australasia, Australia, Torres Strait Islands, mid to late 19th century

Mask of a cow's head with open mouth, ears and horns in papier-mache and foam padded painted cloth, part of a fancy dress masquerade costume: Ghana, Elmina, by Donatus Archibald Acquandoh