Minsereh Figure

This resembles a minsereh, or min, figure, though the term has broadly been used to refer to any full-length carved female wooden figures. Min figures are traditionally used as part of the Yasi (Bullom) or Njayei (Mende) society for curing sickness, though they have also been associated with the Sande society. This example has geometric scarification on her stomach and wears an apron of green, black, and orange, glass beads around her waist. The style of carving is represented in a number of Sierra Leonean figures in museum exhibitions dated to between 1890 and 1910. This figure was originally part of the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum collection, originally acquired at Stevens Auction Rooms, London, in 1919. It was acquired by the British Museum in 1954.

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Further Information

• Type: Figures, sculpture
• Object: Minsereh Figure
• Materials: Wood, Glass
• Culture Group: Mende
• Dimensions: 750mm[H] x 110mm [W] x 120mm [C]
• Production Date: Pre 1954
• Associated Places: Unknown
• Associated People: Wellcome Historical Medical Museum
• Museum: British Museum
• Accession Number: BM:Af.1954.23.3662

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