Dan's Ancestor Statue - Côte d'Ivoire
09
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19
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€ 1
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Description from the seller
Origin. Ivory Coast
Name of the tribe. Dan
Material. Wood
Dimension. 47 cm
Mode of shipping. Colissimo within 24-48h open.
This decorative sculpture is a magnificent piece representative of Dan art (also called Yacouba), a people living mainly in the west of Ivory Coast, as well as in Liberia and Guinea.
This statuette presents the classic and refined aesthetic codes that make Dan sculptors renowned.
The Face (Ideal of beauty):
The eyes: They are the most distinctive feature. They are carved in an almond shape, with half-closed or “slit” eyelids, which convey a sense of serenity and restraint. It is the traditional beauty canon among the Dan.
The forehead and features: The forehead is often broad and clear, with an elaborate hairstyle. The nose is fine, and the mouth, although prominent, is worked with great delicacy.
On the torso and legs there are incised motifs, often in the form of chevrons or hatch marks ("herringbone"). Among the Dan, these scarifications are not only decorative; they often indicate social status, belonging to a group, or are a mark of aesthetic refinement.
The figure stands erect, often in a hieratic pose, arms along the body or placed on the abdomen (sometimes to signify fertility or protection).
Dan sculptures, just like their famous masks, are not mere decorative objects. They fulfill precise functions:
These statues often represented honored people or served as prestige objects within the chieftaincies. They testified to the power and wealth of the owner.
Idealized representations: Unlike some African traditions that seek pure naturalism, Dan art seeks to represent an ideal of beauty. Sculpture is a way to fix this ideal in wood.
Origin. Ivory Coast
Name of the tribe. Dan
Material. Wood
Dimension. 47 cm
Mode of shipping. Colissimo within 24-48h open.
This decorative sculpture is a magnificent piece representative of Dan art (also called Yacouba), a people living mainly in the west of Ivory Coast, as well as in Liberia and Guinea.
This statuette presents the classic and refined aesthetic codes that make Dan sculptors renowned.
The Face (Ideal of beauty):
The eyes: They are the most distinctive feature. They are carved in an almond shape, with half-closed or “slit” eyelids, which convey a sense of serenity and restraint. It is the traditional beauty canon among the Dan.
The forehead and features: The forehead is often broad and clear, with an elaborate hairstyle. The nose is fine, and the mouth, although prominent, is worked with great delicacy.
On the torso and legs there are incised motifs, often in the form of chevrons or hatch marks ("herringbone"). Among the Dan, these scarifications are not only decorative; they often indicate social status, belonging to a group, or are a mark of aesthetic refinement.
The figure stands erect, often in a hieratic pose, arms along the body or placed on the abdomen (sometimes to signify fertility or protection).
Dan sculptures, just like their famous masks, are not mere decorative objects. They fulfill precise functions:
These statues often represented honored people or served as prestige objects within the chieftaincies. They testified to the power and wealth of the owner.
Idealized representations: Unlike some African traditions that seek pure naturalism, Dan art seeks to represent an ideal of beauty. Sculpture is a way to fix this ideal in wood.
Details
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Period
Late 20th century
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Dan's Ancestor Statue
Height
47 cm
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