Anthropomorphic face mask "zakpai" · Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3046163
David Serra, Barcelona, Spain
Description
wood, plant fibres, nail, sacrificial traces
This mask type performs during the harvest festival, which is closely related to the fertility of the living human community. The mask wearers offer meat and harvested rice to the ancestors and distribute all sorts of “medicines” intended to encourage female fertility.
After the festivities, the masks reign the village and take turns watching over the peoples security. During the dry season their main duty is to protect the village from fire.
The object Anthropomorphic face mask “zakpai” with the object ID 3046163 was last part of the auction 93rd Tribal Art Auction at November 16, 2019 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 129.
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.