A 20TH CENTURY AFRICAN DAN MASK
the mask made by the Dan people of Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, with typically concave face, incorporating burlap, Money Cowrie shells, two goat horns, raffia fibre, five iron bells, cotton wadding and string,
36 x 26 cm
The Dan have the reputation of being fierce warriors who are constantly battling their neighbours. Their masks are characterized by a concave face, a protruding mouth, and a high-domed forehead. This is a gunye ge (racing) mask, used in a weekly foot race, held in the dry season. Racers wear masks like this one to invoke bush spirits that will speed them along. Typically, a masked racer will chase an unmasked one and, if he catches him, gets to keep the mask. If not, the bush spirit did not favour him, and he must unmasked. The unmasked runner, in turn, puts on his own mask and chases another unmasked competitor. The runner with the most wins at the end of the dry season is declared the victor.
A 20TH CENTURY AFRICAN DAN MASK
the mask made by the Dan people of Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, with typically concave face, incorporating burlap, Money Cowrie shells, two goat horns, raffia fibre, five iron bells, cotton wadding and string,
36 x 26 cm
The Dan have the reputation of being fierce warriors who are constantly battling their neighbours. Their masks are characterized by a concave face, a protruding mouth, and a high-domed forehead. This is a gunye ge (racing) mask, used in a weekly foot race, held in the dry season. Racers wear masks like this one to invoke bush spirits that will speed them along. Typically, a masked racer will chase an unmasked one and, if he catches him, gets to keep the mask. If not, the bush spirit did not favour him, and he must unmasked. The unmasked runner, in turn, puts on his own mask and chases another unmasked competitor. The runner with the most wins at the end of the dry season is declared the victor.
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
