West Africa, Ivory Coast / Liberia, Dan peoples, ca. 20th century CE. A very fine carved wooden Dan GoGe mask, its visage characteristically concave with a high domed forehead, narrow slit eyes, dramatically defined cheekbones, a delicate nose, an oblong shaped mouth, and a pointed, jutting chin. This example also presents an elaborate braided and twisted coiffure and a metal earring, as well as perforations below the eyes and around the periphery for attaching ornaments and the fabric of a costume respectively. Size: 6.875" W x 10.4" H (17.5 cm x 26.4 cm); 14.6" H (37.1 cm) on included custom stand.
The Dan people, who live in Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire, produce masks for nearly every element or occasion of their society, including education, war, peace, and entertainment. In Mande, the Dan language, masks are referred to as "gle" or "ge", which is also the term for the supernatural beings who live outside the village and who can inhabit the masks during ritual practice. A wonderful Dan mask with a custom stand made especially for it!
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection
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#156886
Condition
One metal earring missing as shown. Very light abrasions to face and peripheries, with a few short and stable pressure fissures within carved-out verso, otherwise intact and near-choice. Great remains of pigment and craquelure along painted areas.