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African & Tribal Art :
Dan Masks : Dan Wooden Mask
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Dan Wooden Mask - PF.5617
Origin: Liberia/Ivory Coast
Circa: 20
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
9.5" (24.1cm) high
x 6.625" (16.8cm) wide
Collection: African
Medium: Wood
$6,000.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
This heavily encrusted wooden mask originated
from the northern Dan. This is indicated by the
carefully hollowed and smoothed interior, as well
as by the oval face with its finely carved features:
high forehead, raised eyebrows, and strongly
protruding mouth with full lips. The circular eyes
that permit unhindered vision on the part of the
wearer are characteristic of the racer mask
(gunye ge) and the fire mask (zakpei ge), two
mask types originating in the north. The gunye
ge hold weekly running contests during the dry
season to test the prowess of young warriors.
The zapkei ge also appear at this time of the year
to inspect cooking fires and prevent possible
spreading. A fiber wig and beard would have
originally filled the holes around the rim of the
mask. This wig would have covered up the scarf
that the wearer had to wrap around his head as a
rule. Stylized fibrous lashes might have once
filled the small, perforated holes around the
eyes. The thick layers of dark patina and
encrustation reveal that this mask served its
ritual purpose well.
- (PF.5617)
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