Dance mask - Dan - Côte d'Ivoire
01
day
13
hours
25
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59
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Current bid
€ 30
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
 | €30 |
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Dan dance mask from Côte d'Ivoire, carved in wood by the Dan people, dimensions 215 × 135 × 70 mm, in good condition, not sold with a stand.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Côte d'Ivoire
Dan
Wood
Height: 215mm
Width: 135mm
Depth: 70mm
This anthropomorphic mask comes from the Dan people (sometimes called Yacouba in Cote d'Ivoire). This important West African ethnic group is established in a forested and mountainous region spanning western Côte d'Ivoire and northeastern Liberia.
Dan art is characterized by a quest for balance, symmetry, and idealization of forms, creating works of great classic purity.
1. Stylistic and Aesthetic Characteristics
This mask embodies the most emblematic and refined canon of Dan sculpture:
• The purity of the oval form: The face features regular, fluid contours, narrowing to a slightly pointed chin. The forehead is high, wide, and harmoniously convex.
• The midline of the forehead: A fine vertical crest etched in light relief divides the forehead in two. This line simulates traditional clan scarification and heightens the face's perfect symmetry.
• The split eyes: The eyes are represented by two fine horizontal slits accented with a subtle relief. In Dan typology, these closed or narrowed eyes embody gentleness, interiority, serenity, and the feminine aspect of the spirit.
• The mouth and nose: The nose is straight and well proportioned. The mouth is carved with strong projection, largely open on full, carefully drawn lips.
• The reverse and patina: The back shows a deep, neat hollow conforming to the dancer's face, with two distinct nostril perforations. The perimeter of the mask is dotted with regular fixation holes to anchor the heavy textile headdress and the costume. On the front, the wood benefits from a smooth dark brown patina with nuance.
2. Use and Ritual Function: The Deangle or Tankagle Mask
In Dan cosmology, masks are not mere stage costumes; they are the physical manifestation of the bush spirits (Gle) who wish to interact with humans:
• A benevolent and peaceful spirit: Owing to its fine eyes and harmonious features, this mask belongs to the category of so-called 'feminine' or peaceful masks, most often a Deangle (or a Tankagle). Unlike justice or war masks, it embodies a joyful, protective, and friendly spirit.
• Connection with Poro initiates: The Deangle plays a crucial educational and guiding role during the initiatory rites of young boys within the secret Poro society. When adolescents are isolated in the bush initiation camp, the wearer of this mask serves as a messenger. He leaves the sacred bush to go to the village to beg food from mothers and women for the initiates.
• Mediator and entertainer: Through its graceful presence, it also entertains the community. It moves by walking or dancing elegantly, interacts playfully with villagers, and may sing. Its inherent kindness also helps to ease tensions and restore harmony within the group during gatherings.
Packages are shipped from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France with Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide with Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask African art Afrikaans/European language blend term equivalents:
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 TranslateCôte d'Ivoire
Dan
Wood
Height: 215mm
Width: 135mm
Depth: 70mm
This anthropomorphic mask comes from the Dan people (sometimes called Yacouba in Cote d'Ivoire). This important West African ethnic group is established in a forested and mountainous region spanning western Côte d'Ivoire and northeastern Liberia.
Dan art is characterized by a quest for balance, symmetry, and idealization of forms, creating works of great classic purity.
1. Stylistic and Aesthetic Characteristics
This mask embodies the most emblematic and refined canon of Dan sculpture:
• The purity of the oval form: The face features regular, fluid contours, narrowing to a slightly pointed chin. The forehead is high, wide, and harmoniously convex.
• The midline of the forehead: A fine vertical crest etched in light relief divides the forehead in two. This line simulates traditional clan scarification and heightens the face's perfect symmetry.
• The split eyes: The eyes are represented by two fine horizontal slits accented with a subtle relief. In Dan typology, these closed or narrowed eyes embody gentleness, interiority, serenity, and the feminine aspect of the spirit.
• The mouth and nose: The nose is straight and well proportioned. The mouth is carved with strong projection, largely open on full, carefully drawn lips.
• The reverse and patina: The back shows a deep, neat hollow conforming to the dancer's face, with two distinct nostril perforations. The perimeter of the mask is dotted with regular fixation holes to anchor the heavy textile headdress and the costume. On the front, the wood benefits from a smooth dark brown patina with nuance.
2. Use and Ritual Function: The Deangle or Tankagle Mask
In Dan cosmology, masks are not mere stage costumes; they are the physical manifestation of the bush spirits (Gle) who wish to interact with humans:
• A benevolent and peaceful spirit: Owing to its fine eyes and harmonious features, this mask belongs to the category of so-called 'feminine' or peaceful masks, most often a Deangle (or a Tankagle). Unlike justice or war masks, it embodies a joyful, protective, and friendly spirit.
• Connection with Poro initiates: The Deangle plays a crucial educational and guiding role during the initiatory rites of young boys within the secret Poro society. When adolescents are isolated in the bush initiation camp, the wearer of this mask serves as a messenger. He leaves the sacred bush to go to the village to beg food from mothers and women for the initiates.
• Mediator and entertainer: Through its graceful presence, it also entertains the community. It moves by walking or dancing elegantly, interacts playfully with villagers, and may sing. Its inherent kindness also helps to ease tensions and restore harmony within the group during gatherings.
Packages are shipped from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France with Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide with Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask African art Afrikaans/European language blend term equivalents:
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
Dance mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Dan
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
