Dance mask - Dan - Côte d'Ivoire
06
days
18
hours
16
minutes
17
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
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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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Masque de danse in wood, a 33 cm tall piece from the Dan people of Côte d'Ivoire, in good condition and sold without a stand.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Dan
Wood
Height: 330mm
Width: 240mm
Depth: 85mm
This large anthropomorphic mask, 33 cm tall, characteristicly belongs to the art of the Dan people (living in the western regions of Ivory Coast and the borders of Liberia).
Through its finely wrought features, it embodies the ideal of feminine beauty and serenity peculiar to this culture.
Stylistic Characteristics
This mask is distinguished by highly codified plastic criteria within Dan society:
• Hair treatment: A thick relief braid borders the top of the forehead and runs down the sides of the face. This care given to the coiffure symbolizes a civilized, elegant woman integrated into the social fabric.
• Oval face and prominent forehead: The facial structure narrows to a finely pointed chin, crowned by a high, smooth forehead, a sign of wisdom and spiritual maturity.
• Split eyes: The horizontal, elongated eye slits grant the mask an inward, gentle, and deeply calm expression.
• Slightly open mouth: The full, edged lips part slightly to reveal a stylized dentition, a realistic detail frequently observed on high-quality pieces.
• Dark patina: The wood surface presents a beautiful dark, satin patina, obtained by successive applications of plant oils or black mud dyes.
Usage and Ritual Function: The Deangle type (or Tankagle)
In Dan cosmology, masks are not mere costume accessories but material receptacles of the brousse spirits (gle or gieu) that wish to interact with men.
Given its refined and non-aggressive traits, this mask is classified among benevolent feminine spirits, generally associated with the Deangle or Tankagle types:
1. Initiatory Role and Mediation (Poro Society)
The Deangle mask serves as a link between the village and the initiation camp for young boys located in the sacred bush. It is a protective and maternal spirit. Its function is to go to meet the village women to claim food and provisions destined for adolescents during the period of initiatory seclusion. Its presence is reassuring and joyful.
2. Celebrations and Public Entertainment (Tankagle)
When it plays a Tankagle role, this mask becomes a party facilitator. Accompanied by musicians, a drummer, and an interpreter, the mask bearer performs graceful dances, mimics scenes of daily life, bestows blessings, and recites poems. It is a vehicle of social harmony, used to welcome distinguished guests or celebrate village festivities.
Fast and protected shipping. Packages are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union via Chronopost International. Delivery via Colissimo International to the rest of Europe and worldwide
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
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
Height: 330mm
Width: 240mm
Depth: 85mm
This large anthropomorphic mask, 33 cm tall, characteristicly belongs to the art of the Dan people (living in the western regions of Ivory Coast and the borders of Liberia).
Through its finely wrought features, it embodies the ideal of feminine beauty and serenity peculiar to this culture.
Stylistic Characteristics
This mask is distinguished by highly codified plastic criteria within Dan society:
• Hair treatment: A thick relief braid borders the top of the forehead and runs down the sides of the face. This care given to the coiffure symbolizes a civilized, elegant woman integrated into the social fabric.
• Oval face and prominent forehead: The facial structure narrows to a finely pointed chin, crowned by a high, smooth forehead, a sign of wisdom and spiritual maturity.
• Split eyes: The horizontal, elongated eye slits grant the mask an inward, gentle, and deeply calm expression.
• Slightly open mouth: The full, edged lips part slightly to reveal a stylized dentition, a realistic detail frequently observed on high-quality pieces.
• Dark patina: The wood surface presents a beautiful dark, satin patina, obtained by successive applications of plant oils or black mud dyes.
Usage and Ritual Function: The Deangle type (or Tankagle)
In Dan cosmology, masks are not mere costume accessories but material receptacles of the brousse spirits (gle or gieu) that wish to interact with men.
Given its refined and non-aggressive traits, this mask is classified among benevolent feminine spirits, generally associated with the Deangle or Tankagle types:
1. Initiatory Role and Mediation (Poro Society)
The Deangle mask serves as a link between the village and the initiation camp for young boys located in the sacred bush. It is a protective and maternal spirit. Its function is to go to meet the village women to claim food and provisions destined for adolescents during the period of initiatory seclusion. Its presence is reassuring and joyful.
2. Celebrations and Public Entertainment (Tankagle)
When it plays a Tankagle role, this mask becomes a party facilitator. Accompanied by musicians, a drummer, and an interpreter, the mask bearer performs graceful dances, mimics scenes of daily life, bestows blessings, and recites poems. It is a vehicle of social harmony, used to welcome distinguished guests or celebrate village festivities.
Fast and protected shipping. Packages are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union via Chronopost International. Delivery via Colissimo International to the rest of Europe and worldwide
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
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
Dance mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Dan
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
