Beak mask "gägon" · Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3036657
sold
EUR 1,800
Provenance
French Private CollectionSize
H: 22,5 cm
H: 8.9 inch
Description
wood, partly encrusted brown patina, the facial plane enclosed by grooves, the small eyes framed by metal sheet, lower jaw and beard missing, pierced around the rim, min. dam., small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion, base;
according to Hans Himmelheber this mask type appeared on sunday mornings for entertainment of the village people, sometimes accompanied by small orchestras, moving and dancing in the midst of the people. In former times the mask type surely had educational purposes with his songs and sayings but nowadays it is used for entertainment only.
Comparing literature
Fischer, Eberhard & Hans Himmelheber, Die Kunst der Dan, Zürich 1976, p. 119 ff.