Beaked mask "gägon" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3034467

Description

wood, slightly shiny black patina, the facial plane framed by incised lines, nails and remains of a beard in the beak area, pierced around the rim, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, metal socle;
the mask was completed by a high tapering cylindrical helmet with feathers, a skirt of grass fibres and blue-white cloth wrapped around the upper part of the body. According to Hans Himmelheber this mask type surely had educational purposes in former times but is nowadays only used for entertainment of the village people.