Dan - Côte d'Ivoire

Dan ceremonial mask – Ivory Coast – Mid-20th century

Traditional mask attributed to the Dan people, native to Ivory Coast and dated approximately to the mid-20th century.

It is a piece of great presence, carved in wood and characterized by a face with stylized features: high forehead, narrow, half-closed eyes, elongated nose and a pronounced mouth with full lips. The surface retains a beautiful dark patina, with traces of pigment and numerous signs of wear that form part of the character of the piece.

Notably, its elaborate ornamentation stands out. The face is surrounded by a textile structure covered with numerous conus shells (c never used here? Wait—conchas de cauri). It should be "conch shells of cowrie". I'll translate: "cowrie shells". small textile elements filled, wooden beads and large spherical ornaments. At the bottom there is a crown of long carved wooden elements that add volume and a strong sculptural presence to the whole.

The reverse reveals the construction of the mask, the inner cavity of the carving and the traditional system of fixing the different textiles and ornaments with fibers, cords and stitches.

Within Dan artistic traditions, masks are part of a complex ceremonial universe in which there exist different typologies and functions. Therefore, in the absence of specific documentation about its original context of use, it is prudently presented as a mask attributed to the Dan tradition, without assigning a concrete ritual function.

Origin: Ivory Coast
Culture: Dan
Dating: mid-20th century
Materials: wood, textile, fibers, cowrie shells and ornamental beads/elements
Condition: retains patina, wear, small losses, rubs and natural aging of the materials, perfectly visible in the photographs. These elements are considered an integral part of the piece and its history.

An especially decorative and expressive piece, interesting for both an African art and ethnographic collection and for its strong sculptural presence.

Provenance: private collection.