Dan's Dance Mask - Côte d'Ivoire

Origin. Ivory Coast
Tribe name
Material. Wood
Dimension. H 42 cm
Shipping method. Colissimo within 24-48h, open.

This decorative mask is a characteristic piece of Dan art (also called Yacouba), a people living mainly in Liberia and Ivory Coast.

Aesthetic characteristics
Facial structure: The face features the typical traits of Dan statuary: an oval shape, a prominent forehead, and eyes with horizontal slits, carved with great finesse.
The beak: The most distinctive element is this long, tapered, and curved projection, starting from the mouth area. This avian form is a specific trait that transforms the human face into a spiritual animal entity.

Cultural and functional significance
Spiritual incarnation: In Dan culture, masks are not art objects in the Western sense, but "living spirits" of the bush. The mask does not represent a spirit; it is the spirit itself when worn.
The avian spirit: Masks with beaks generally represent forest spirits associated with birds (often identified with the hornbill or other canopy birds). These spirits are often seen as powerful entities that protect the village or intervene in social regulation.