Mask - Dan - Côte d'Ivoire

Dan-Yacouba Mask – Côte d’Ivoire, Man–Biankouma region

A masterful work, reserved for major collections

Private collection, Switzerland, information provided under document to the buyer.

This Dan-Yacouba mask unquestionably ranks at the pinnacle of West African sculptural production. With striking elegance, it combines formal refinement, expressive intensity, and an ancient patina of a deep brown-black velvety hue, revealing authentic and long‑standing ritual use. The face, perfectly balanced, is characterized by full, controlled volumes: a smooth, broad forehead; almond, almost closed, split eyes; a straight, powerfully structuring nose; a full mouth slightly protruding, giving the whole piece a presence that is both serene and inhabited.

The hair, made of densely braided plant fibers, enhances the nobility of the figure and fully situates the object within the great ceremonial Dan corpus. These masks were used in initiation rites, social regulation, and public manifestations where they embodied acting spiritual forces, guarantors of order and community balance. The exceptional quality of the sculpture, the harmony of proportions, and the emotional force radiating from it place this piece among true masterpieces of Dan art, comparable to examples held in the world's leading museum and private collections. A mask of this scale is extremely rare on today’s market and constitutes an absolutely prestige acquisition for any discerning collector.

Presentation of our house of expertise

Based in Belgium, our expertise and sales house specializes in African and ethnographic art. A reference seller on Catawiki for more than 8 years, we benefit from a solid reputation and a history of several hundred sales with a nearly 100% satisfaction rate.

We regularly assist with liquidations, successions, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is rigorous, transparent, and accessible, with many sales offered without reserve prices.

Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, in some cases, museum institutions.

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