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HOME :
African & Tribal Art :
Dan Masks : Dan Wooden Tankagle Mask
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Dan Wooden Tankagle Mask - PF.1265
Origin: Liberia/Ivory Coast
Circa: 20
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
9.875" (25.1cm) high
x 5.125" (13.0cm) wide
Collection: African
Style: Dan
Medium: Wood, Metal
Additional Information: Korea
£7,200.00
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
The life of the Dan people is governed
by the
Poro society, an organization for men
that
trains
and initiates boys in the community’s
laws
and
in general maintains order and
traditions.
Many
different masks are used for the
society’s
ceremonies. Judges, protectors,
diviners,
and
watchmen all have an identifying mask
type,
and
others are made to use in circumcision
rites,
to
guard against trespassers, and to
collect
food
that is brought back to the boys in
their Poro
initiation camps. One form is even
worn by a
guardian who sees that women
extinguish
their
fires at noon in the dry season.
The “tankagle” mask
represents a
beneficent woman and, with its smooth
surfaces,
naturalistic details, well carved
facial planes,
and
half closed eyes, is understandably
regarded
as
beautiful by the Dan. Such masks are
worn
by
performers who appear sometimes with
an
attendant and at other times with a
chorus or
orchestra. They dance, sing, tell
proverbs,
and
bless the onlookers. A cone shaped
cap is
often
worn on the top of the mask. Most of
the
Dan
live in Liberia, but a small number
occupy
part of
neighboring Guinea. This mask
exhibits a
fine
mellow medium brown patina and metal
teeth
and eyelids. The metal would have
been
polished to reflect the light of the
campfires
emphasizing the mystery of the
performance.
- (PF.1265)
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