Firefighter mask, Fire Watch - Dan - Côte d'Ivoire
06
days
14
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12
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57
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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 € 280 - € 330
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Dan Zakpei or Gunyege mask from Côte d'Ivoire, titled Masque Pompier, Veilleur de Feu, carved in wood with fabric, cord and metal, about 25.5 cm high, 15.5 cm wide and 8.5 cm deep, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Dan
Wood / fabrics / cord / metal
Height: 255 mm
Width: 155 mm
Depth: 85 mm
Small crack inside at the back upper left, barely visible in the photos.
This face mask, 25.5 cm tall, originates from the western Ivory Coast (Man and Danané mountain region), within the Dan (sometimes called Yacouba) ethnicity. Its dimensions precisely correspond to the traditional standards for Dan face masks sculpted to human facial scale.
Object analysis defines its morphological specifics and ritual role.
1. Stylistic and Aesthetic Characteristics
Dan art is distinguished by a remarkable balance between anatomical realism and sacred stylization. This model features highly expressive attributes:
Circular Eyes and Red Headband: The most striking feature lies in its large round open eyes, rimmed with light plates (metal or parchment), and covered by a wide band of red fabric. These elements immediately indicate a lively, alert, and masculine spirit.
Facial Features: The forehead is high, rounded, and vertically divided by a slight median ridge. The nose is fine and straight, while the mouth is wide open with full lips protruding forward, allowing the wearer to breathe freely and emit sounds.
Beard of Fibers: The chin is adorned with a dense beard of plant fibers or horsehair, emphasizing the mask’s grounding in the spirit world of the bush. A metallic tip (nail) is also visible at the crown, historically used to fix ornaments or feathers.
Ingenious Reverse: The inner face is perfectly hollowed, fluid, and patinated by repetitive contact with the dancer’s face. The entire edge is pierced with regular holes intended to fasten the fabric headdress and the heavy costume that completely concealed the body during the ritual.
2. Functional Use: An Active and Vigilant Spirit
Among the Dan, masks are not mere art objects but the tangible envelopes of the bush spirits (Gle). The circular shape of the eyes places this piece among masks called “awakened” or aggressive. Two major traditional uses correspond to these criteria:
The Zakpei Mask (The Fire Watch): This is the most probable hypothesis for this type of mask adorned with a red headband. During the dry season, when fire risks are critical for thatched huts, the Zakpei wearer runs through the village to ensure that women have extinguished domestic cooking fires before nightfall. If a fire is left unattended, the mask confiscates pots or imposes a symbolic fine, acting as an indispensable social and safety regulator.
The Gunyege Mask (The Runner): These masks with round eyes are also used during inter-neighborhood or inter-village running competitions during the dry season. The village champion wears the mask and must be pursued by other youths; if caught, he must yield the mask. The red headband and the panoramic vision offered by the circular orbits are perfect for this dynamic function.
In summary
This 25 cm Dan mask, identifiable by its red headband and circular eyes, is an example of a Zakpei or Gunyege mask. It embodies an energetic and protective bush spirit, whose mission was to animate the village through physical jousts or actively safeguard the community against the dangers of fire.
The parcels are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery between 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateIvory Coast
Dan
Wood / fabrics / cord / metal
Height: 255 mm
Width: 155 mm
Depth: 85 mm
Small crack inside at the back upper left, barely visible in the photos.
This face mask, 25.5 cm tall, originates from the western Ivory Coast (Man and Danané mountain region), within the Dan (sometimes called Yacouba) ethnicity. Its dimensions precisely correspond to the traditional standards for Dan face masks sculpted to human facial scale.
Object analysis defines its morphological specifics and ritual role.
1. Stylistic and Aesthetic Characteristics
Dan art is distinguished by a remarkable balance between anatomical realism and sacred stylization. This model features highly expressive attributes:
Circular Eyes and Red Headband: The most striking feature lies in its large round open eyes, rimmed with light plates (metal or parchment), and covered by a wide band of red fabric. These elements immediately indicate a lively, alert, and masculine spirit.
Facial Features: The forehead is high, rounded, and vertically divided by a slight median ridge. The nose is fine and straight, while the mouth is wide open with full lips protruding forward, allowing the wearer to breathe freely and emit sounds.
Beard of Fibers: The chin is adorned with a dense beard of plant fibers or horsehair, emphasizing the mask’s grounding in the spirit world of the bush. A metallic tip (nail) is also visible at the crown, historically used to fix ornaments or feathers.
Ingenious Reverse: The inner face is perfectly hollowed, fluid, and patinated by repetitive contact with the dancer’s face. The entire edge is pierced with regular holes intended to fasten the fabric headdress and the heavy costume that completely concealed the body during the ritual.
2. Functional Use: An Active and Vigilant Spirit
Among the Dan, masks are not mere art objects but the tangible envelopes of the bush spirits (Gle). The circular shape of the eyes places this piece among masks called “awakened” or aggressive. Two major traditional uses correspond to these criteria:
The Zakpei Mask (The Fire Watch): This is the most probable hypothesis for this type of mask adorned with a red headband. During the dry season, when fire risks are critical for thatched huts, the Zakpei wearer runs through the village to ensure that women have extinguished domestic cooking fires before nightfall. If a fire is left unattended, the mask confiscates pots or imposes a symbolic fine, acting as an indispensable social and safety regulator.
The Gunyege Mask (The Runner): These masks with round eyes are also used during inter-neighborhood or inter-village running competitions during the dry season. The village champion wears the mask and must be pursued by other youths; if caught, he must yield the mask. The red headband and the panoramic vision offered by the circular orbits are perfect for this dynamic function.
In summary
This 25 cm Dan mask, identifiable by its red headband and circular eyes, is an example of a Zakpei or Gunyege mask. It embodies an energetic and protective bush spirit, whose mission was to animate the village through physical jousts or actively safeguard the community against the dangers of fire.
The parcels are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery between 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Firefighter mask, Fire Watch
Ethnic group/ culture
Dan
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood / fabrics / cord / metal
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Weight
0.23 kg
Sold by
