Mask - Dan - Côte d'Ivoire

Dan-Yacouba Mask – Ivory Coast, Man–Biankouma region

A flagship work, reserved for major collections.

Private collection, Switzerland, information provided in a document to the buyer.

This Dan-Yacouba mask sits unmistakably at the pinnacle of West African sculptural production. With striking elegance, it blends formal refinement, expressive intensity, and an ancient patina of a deep brown-black velvety sheen, revealing authentic and prolonged ritual use. The face, perfectly balanced, is characterized by full, controlled volumes: a smooth, broad forehead; almond-shaped, nearly closed eyes; a straight, powerfully structuring nose; a fleshy mouth slightly protruding, endowing the whole with a presence that is at once serene and inhabited.

The hairstyle made of braided plant fibers, dense and abundant, enhances the nobility of the face and fully situates the object within the great ceremonial corpus of the Dan. These masks were used during initiation rites, social regulation, and public performances where they embodied spiritual forces at work, guardians of order and community balance. The exceptional quality of the sculpture, the harmonious proportions, and the emotional intensity conveyed place this piece among the true masterpieces of Dan art, comparable to exemplars kept in the world's greatest museum and private collections. A mask of this magnitude is today extremely rare on the market and constitutes an acquisition of absolute prestige for any discerning collector.

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.

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