Ceremonial mask - Bassa / Dan - Liberia
06
days
18
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50
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54
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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 € 500 - € 550
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Ceremonial wooden mask from the Bassa/Dan people of Liberia, in good condition, delivered with a wooden stand; dimensions 230 x 135 x 65 mm.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Liberia
Bassa / Dan
Bois
Height: 230mm
Width: 135mm
Depth: 65mm
Delivered with a nice wooden base
This 23 cm wooden mask originates from the Bassa people, an ethnic group mainly living in Liberia, in the forest region, whose artistic and social traditions share similarities with their neighbors, notably the Dan (sometimes grouped under the term "Dan-Bassa" in stylistic analyses).
Here are the key elements about its origin and function:
1. Stylistic Characteristics
The facial structure: The mask is distinguished by a harmonious oval shape, a prominent, rounded forehead, often highlighted by a decorative carved border. The eyes, round and protruding, are a strong visual signature, as is the open mouth that seems to come alive.
The patina: The dark, lustrous, deep surface testifies to prolonged ritual use. This patina is not merely aesthetic: it results from ritual anointment (oils, vegetal or sacrificial substances) applied over time to nourish the spirit of the mask.
The workmanship: The back of the mask shows traces of manual gouge carving, with notches around the edge to attach the fiber or fabric costume that entirely covered the dancer during ceremonies.
2. Use and Significance
In Bassa traditional society, the mask is not a lifeless object but a living entity, a temporary embodiment of the forest spirits:
Social and judicial role: This type of mask was used within initiatory societies, such as the Poro society. It intervened in resolving internal conflicts, mediating, or restoring social order. Its presence at a ceremony ensured that decisions or judgments were under the guidance of ancestral wisdom rather than mere human will.
The Spirit Mask: When worn, the dancer becomes the mask. He loses his own identity to embody a protective or educational spirit. These masks were worn during youth initiation cycles or for major community events (funerals of notable people, harvest festivals), where they danced to purify the space and bless the community.
Spiritual communication: The mask bearer acted as a bridge between the human world and the invisible world. Through his dance, codified movements, and the sounds he emitted, the mask served to channel spiritual forces to maintain balance within the village.
These intermediate-sized pieces, such as this one, were often high-quality masks intended to be worn by senior initiates, whose value lay as much in the artistic mastery of sculpture as in the ritual efficacy attributed to the mask.
Fast and secure shipping. Packages are sent with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery within 1 to 3 days in France, 2 to 5 days in the European Union.
Worldwide delivery with Colissimo International.
The price does not include various taxes and customs duties.
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 TranslateLiberia
Bassa / Dan
Bois
Height: 230mm
Width: 135mm
Depth: 65mm
Delivered with a nice wooden base
This 23 cm wooden mask originates from the Bassa people, an ethnic group mainly living in Liberia, in the forest region, whose artistic and social traditions share similarities with their neighbors, notably the Dan (sometimes grouped under the term "Dan-Bassa" in stylistic analyses).
Here are the key elements about its origin and function:
1. Stylistic Characteristics
The facial structure: The mask is distinguished by a harmonious oval shape, a prominent, rounded forehead, often highlighted by a decorative carved border. The eyes, round and protruding, are a strong visual signature, as is the open mouth that seems to come alive.
The patina: The dark, lustrous, deep surface testifies to prolonged ritual use. This patina is not merely aesthetic: it results from ritual anointment (oils, vegetal or sacrificial substances) applied over time to nourish the spirit of the mask.
The workmanship: The back of the mask shows traces of manual gouge carving, with notches around the edge to attach the fiber or fabric costume that entirely covered the dancer during ceremonies.
2. Use and Significance
In Bassa traditional society, the mask is not a lifeless object but a living entity, a temporary embodiment of the forest spirits:
Social and judicial role: This type of mask was used within initiatory societies, such as the Poro society. It intervened in resolving internal conflicts, mediating, or restoring social order. Its presence at a ceremony ensured that decisions or judgments were under the guidance of ancestral wisdom rather than mere human will.
The Spirit Mask: When worn, the dancer becomes the mask. He loses his own identity to embody a protective or educational spirit. These masks were worn during youth initiation cycles or for major community events (funerals of notable people, harvest festivals), where they danced to purify the space and bless the community.
Spiritual communication: The mask bearer acted as a bridge between the human world and the invisible world. Through his dance, codified movements, and the sounds he emitted, the mask served to channel spiritual forces to maintain balance within the village.
These intermediate-sized pieces, such as this one, were often high-quality masks intended to be worn by senior initiates, whose value lay as much in the artistic mastery of sculpture as in the ritual efficacy attributed to the mask.
Fast and secure shipping. Packages are sent with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery within 1 to 3 days in France, 2 to 5 days in the European Union.
Worldwide delivery with Colissimo International.
The price does not include various taxes and customs duties.
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
Ceremonial mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Bassa / Dan
Country of Origin
Liberia
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
