Anthropomorphic face mask "tankagle" · Côte d'Ivoire, Dan/Liberia, Mano · ID: 3038498
Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, 26. Juni 1999, lot 258
German Private Collection, Munich
Description
wood, slightly shiny blackish brown patina, mother of pearl splinters as teeth, narrow slit eyes, sickle-shaped cheek scarifications, straight nose with round bridge, slightly dam. (right eye), missing parts (chin, backside at the rim), abrasion of paint;
present mask can be classified most likely as “tankagle” type, which means as much as “pantomimic dancing mask figure”. Such masks used to entertain the audience with varied dances, sometimes with playing little scenes or by singing. The rich patina results from immersing the masks in a special liquid of leaves soaked in water and soot. When the mask is dry, it is rubbed until the surface becomes completely black and shiny.
The object Anthropomorphic face mask “tankagle” with the object ID 3038498 was part of the auction 80th Tribal Art Auction on June 27, 2015. The object with the lot number 274 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,300 with an asking price of EUR 2,500.
You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.
Comparing literature
Morigi, Paolo, Raccolta di un amatore d'arte primitiva, Berna 1980, p. 407