Item Information Sheet
Title / Mask Name: Dan Ancestral Mask
Ethnic Group: Dan (Gio/Yakuba)
Country of Origin: Cote d'Ivoire / Liberia
About This Piece:
A Dan ancestral mask from the Dan people of the Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia border region. Carved in the naturalistic Dan tradition, the mask features a domed oval forehead, deeply carved circular tubular eye sockets, and an open rectangular mouth -- a form associated with masks that speak or sing during ceremony. The surface carries a warm red-brown wood patina developed through age and handling. Among the Dan, each mask (gle) is understood as a spirit that chose its own form, with the carver acting as intermediary. This piece reflects the Dan aesthetic philosophy of rendering the spirit world in recognizably human terms.
Dimensions & Weight:
Height: 29 cm / 11.4 in
Width: 14 cm / 5.5 in
Depth: 6 cm / 2.4 in
Weight: 0.65 kg / 1.43 lbs
(Tip: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 lb = 0.453592 kg)
Provenance:
Collected From: Art dealer, Accra, Ghana
Notes:
Offered in as-found condition. Surface wear, patination, and aging are inherent to authentic artifacts and reflect the object's history, not defects.