Tribal Art

Dan Mask (N° 24065)

Mask equipped with its voluminous pointed headdress in woven raffia, the contours of which are lined with a thick fringe of fibers similar to hair. An adornment gathering bouquets of cowries crowns the mask which is also framed by long braids. Black satin patina.
The Dan masks, of various designs, generally occur during very theatrical entertainment parties where women play a preponderant role. The so-called "mocking" mask called Déanglé defines an ideal of beauty and benevolence because it is sculpted in honor of the young girls of the village or famous men. Each of the masks had a name related to its function. Also used during circumcision rites, they appear in the company of the gle sö singing masks and the large go ge masks relating to the go society, who exercises justice and maintains social stability.