Anthropomorphic face mask "deangle" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3049693

Description

wood, pigments, wax or oil treated surface, remains of old collection labels, base

“Deangle” literally means a “joking and smiling” mask character. The name implies that a friendly and beautiful appearance is described, destined to entertain the people.

The “dean” mask characters belong to the circumcision camps (“mbon”) of young boys and girls, which are always situated in the holy forest nearby the village. They act as mediator between camp and village and they are responsible for food and protection of the initiates.

Comparing literature

Fischer, Eberhard & Hans Himmelheber, Die Kunst der Dan, Zürich 1976, p. 41 f.