West African Dan Carved Wood Face Mask, Slit Eyes, Hair Braids, Initiation

West Africa, Liberia, Dan. A Dan deangle mask carved in wood as a smooth ovoid face. A high domed brow curves down into arched, ridged eyebrows over narrow horizontal eye slits. Below a straight nose with flared nostrils, the lips show small pointed teeth cut from brass sheet. A thick braided rope of plant fiber, animal hair, or perhaps both frames the face and falls in two plaits along the cheeks. Deangle masks are usually linked to boys' initiation camps, where they probably acted as gentle, feminine go-betweens with the village, entertaining, teaching, and collecting food for the initiates. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 205811

Estimate:$200

View all items fromArtemis Fine ArtsorEthnographic