Protective mask 'déanglé' - Dan - Côte d'Ivoire
02
days
14
hours
32
minutes
01
second
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 140738 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Protection mask "déanglé", carved wood, Dan origin from Côte d'Ivoire, dimensions 260 mm high, 155 mm wide, 95 mm deep, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Dan
Wood / cord
Height: 260 mm
Width: 155 mm
Depth: 95 mm
This anthropomorphic wooden mask comes from the Dan (or Yacouba) ethnic group, a people living mainly in the mountainous regions of western Ivory Coast and neighboring Liberia. Given its morphology, this piece belongs to the major category of masks called Deangle (or Gle mène).
1. Origin and stylistic characteristics of the Dan
Dan art is founded on the search for an ideal of classical plastic beauty, often characterized by oval faces and features of great softness. The mask files mask_dan_CI113.jpg and mask_dan_CI113-10.jpg highlight very specific criteria:
Global shape: The face sits within a regular oval ending in a pointed, well-defined chin. Volume treatment remains sober, almost minimalist.
Almond-shaped, stretched eyes: The eye slits are carved finely and horizontally. In Dan codification, these half-closed eyes express gentleness, kindness, and affability, in contrast to the round eyes of warrior or justiciar masks (Bugle or Kagle).
Face details: A straight, slightly triangular nose above a mouth with full, slightly open lips, sculpted with great realism. The forehead is high and vertically divided by a slight ridge or a midline scar, a common feature in statuary of this region.
The striped border: All around the mask is outlined by a band engraved with fine parallel geometric incisions, simulating hair implantation or serving as an aesthetic anchor point before the cloth headdress.
Internal and external patina: The wood shows on the outside a dark, matte patina, worn by time, while the reverse reveals a strong functional hollow bearing traces of the adze, as well as the lateral perforations allowing the mask to be attached to the dancer’s head.
2. Social and ritual use: The Deangle mask
Among the Dan, masks are not seen as purely human creations, but as avatars or physical incarnations of the spirits of the bush (Gle) eager to participate in village life.
The mediator of initiation camps: Deangle is an essentially friendly and protective spirit. Its main role is to serve as a bridge between young initiates, temporarily isolated in the secret initiation camp in the bush (the Bon), and the rest of the village community.
The quest for food: Worn by a young initiate, the mask regularly goes to the village to beg for food, rice, and offerings from the women on behalf of the adolescents left at the camp.
Entertainment and benevolence: Far from frightening, the appearance of the Deangle is a joyful moment. It jokes, sings, recites proverbs, and dances gracefully to entertain the village women, acting as an agent of social cohesion and educational transition.
3. Symbolic meaning
The Deangle mask embodies the female ideal of beauty, softness, and kindness among the Dan, even though it is necessarily carved and worn by men. Through it, the bush spirit leaves its wild and potentially dangerous nature to adopt a civilized, protective, and nourishing attitude, reminding villagers of the importance of hospitality, youth education, and the interconnectedness between the spiritual world and daily life.
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 / cord
Height: 260 mm
Width: 155 mm
Depth: 95 mm
This anthropomorphic wooden mask comes from the Dan (or Yacouba) ethnic group, a people living mainly in the mountainous regions of western Ivory Coast and neighboring Liberia. Given its morphology, this piece belongs to the major category of masks called Deangle (or Gle mène).
1. Origin and stylistic characteristics of the Dan
Dan art is founded on the search for an ideal of classical plastic beauty, often characterized by oval faces and features of great softness. The mask files mask_dan_CI113.jpg and mask_dan_CI113-10.jpg highlight very specific criteria:
Global shape: The face sits within a regular oval ending in a pointed, well-defined chin. Volume treatment remains sober, almost minimalist.
Almond-shaped, stretched eyes: The eye slits are carved finely and horizontally. In Dan codification, these half-closed eyes express gentleness, kindness, and affability, in contrast to the round eyes of warrior or justiciar masks (Bugle or Kagle).
Face details: A straight, slightly triangular nose above a mouth with full, slightly open lips, sculpted with great realism. The forehead is high and vertically divided by a slight ridge or a midline scar, a common feature in statuary of this region.
The striped border: All around the mask is outlined by a band engraved with fine parallel geometric incisions, simulating hair implantation or serving as an aesthetic anchor point before the cloth headdress.
Internal and external patina: The wood shows on the outside a dark, matte patina, worn by time, while the reverse reveals a strong functional hollow bearing traces of the adze, as well as the lateral perforations allowing the mask to be attached to the dancer’s head.
2. Social and ritual use: The Deangle mask
Among the Dan, masks are not seen as purely human creations, but as avatars or physical incarnations of the spirits of the bush (Gle) eager to participate in village life.
The mediator of initiation camps: Deangle is an essentially friendly and protective spirit. Its main role is to serve as a bridge between young initiates, temporarily isolated in the secret initiation camp in the bush (the Bon), and the rest of the village community.
The quest for food: Worn by a young initiate, the mask regularly goes to the village to beg for food, rice, and offerings from the women on behalf of the adolescents left at the camp.
Entertainment and benevolence: Far from frightening, the appearance of the Deangle is a joyful moment. It jokes, sings, recites proverbs, and dances gracefully to entertain the village women, acting as an agent of social cohesion and educational transition.
3. Symbolic meaning
The Deangle mask embodies the female ideal of beauty, softness, and kindness among the Dan, even though it is necessarily carved and worn by men. Through it, the bush spirit leaves its wild and potentially dangerous nature to adopt a civilized, protective, and nourishing attitude, reminding villagers of the importance of hospitality, youth education, and the interconnectedness between the spiritual world and daily life.
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
Ethnic group/ culture
Dan
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Protective mask 'déanglé'
Sold by
