Mask - Dan - Côte d'Ivoire
07
days
02
hours
34
minutes
36
seconds
Current bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 900 - € 1,000
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Dan mask from Côte d'Ivoire, an indigenous object dating to the mid-20th century, from a private collection, 23 cm high by 1 cm deep and 1 cm wide, sold with stand, in excellent condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Height: 36 cm with base
Dan masks known as 'fire' masks, sometimes referred to by collectors as 'firefighter' masks, constitute a spectacular and relatively rare category of Dan art from Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia. They are distinguished by the presence of red cloth or fibers arranged around the eyes, associated with an intense expression and a contrasted polychromy. This red coloration, unusual in the more classical Dan aesthetic, symbolically refers to heat, danger, energy, and spiritual power.
These masks are linked to exceptional public demonstrations, often nocturnal, during which the spirit embodied by the mask exerts a function of social control, protection, or a demonstration of ritual authority. The wearer, completely concealed beneath a fiber costume, performs rapid and impressive dances, reinforcing the feared and respected character of the invoked entity.
Formally, the 'fire' masks preserve the fundamental traits of Dan sculpture — a domed forehead, protruding mouth, compact build — while intensifying the expressive tension through the use of red and, at times, added textile materials. Presented in museum collections and at prestigious sales, these masks are today appreciated for their visual strength, their rarity, and their unique role in the Dan ritual repertoire, at the crossroads between performance, power, and sacred.
Introduction to our expertise firm
Based in Belgium, our appraisal and sales house specializes in African and ethnographic art. A leading seller on Catawiki for over 8 years, we enjoy a solid reputation and a track record of several hundred sales with a customer satisfaction rate close to 100%.
We regularly assist with liquidations, estates, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is designed to be rigorous, transparent and accessible, with sales often offered without a reserve price.
Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.
Shipping insured within 24 hours, with careful packaging, insurance, and tracking.
Contact 7 days a week: we remain available for any questions or requests for additional information.
Height: 36 cm with base
Dan masks known as 'fire' masks, sometimes referred to by collectors as 'firefighter' masks, constitute a spectacular and relatively rare category of Dan art from Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia. They are distinguished by the presence of red cloth or fibers arranged around the eyes, associated with an intense expression and a contrasted polychromy. This red coloration, unusual in the more classical Dan aesthetic, symbolically refers to heat, danger, energy, and spiritual power.
These masks are linked to exceptional public demonstrations, often nocturnal, during which the spirit embodied by the mask exerts a function of social control, protection, or a demonstration of ritual authority. The wearer, completely concealed beneath a fiber costume, performs rapid and impressive dances, reinforcing the feared and respected character of the invoked entity.
Formally, the 'fire' masks preserve the fundamental traits of Dan sculpture — a domed forehead, protruding mouth, compact build — while intensifying the expressive tension through the use of red and, at times, added textile materials. Presented in museum collections and at prestigious sales, these masks are today appreciated for their visual strength, their rarity, and their unique role in the Dan ritual repertoire, at the crossroads between performance, power, and sacred.
Introduction to our expertise firm
Based in Belgium, our appraisal and sales house specializes in African and ethnographic art. A leading seller on Catawiki for over 8 years, we enjoy a solid reputation and a track record of several hundred sales with a customer satisfaction rate close to 100%.
We regularly assist with liquidations, estates, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is designed to be rigorous, transparent and accessible, with sales often offered without a reserve price.
Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.
Shipping insured within 24 hours, with careful packaging, insurance, and tracking.
Contact 7 days a week: we remain available for any questions or requests for additional information.
Details
Indigenous object name
Mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Dan
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Period
Mid 20th century
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Excellent condition
Height
23 cm
Width
1 cm
Depth
1 cm
Weight
1 g
Provenance
Private collection
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