Genuine Dan Wooden Mask // V1

Carved from a single piece of soft wood, this oval face mask by a Dan carver of Côte d'Ivoire or Liberia features a wide forehead and narrow chin, large circular eye holes, and nose, mouth, and brows in high relief. The wood has been darkened and appears black with a shiny surface. The elliptical mouth exhibits a narrow slit separating the mask’s lips. The mask's rims are pierced with irregular holes for attaching the rest of the costume.

Dan masks have been documented as the embodiment of at least a dozen artistic personalities. Among these are Deangle, who ventures into the village from the initiation camps to ask women for food; Tankagle and Bagle, who entertain through a range of aesthetically pleasing dances, skits, and mimes; Gunyege, whose mask is worn by a community's champion foot racers in competitions; and Bugle, who historically leads men into battle. Once they are divorced from their performance contexts, however, mask forms are difficult to identify.