Dance crest "dagu" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Tusian · ID: 3034797

Description

wood, brown patina, pigment remains, helmet-shaped calotte, surmounted by a stylized cattle and a small bird figure, min. dam., missing parts through insect caused damage, cracks;
used for ceremonies preparing young men for the actual initiation, the membership of the “poro” society. The dancers wore abundant costumes: long trousers, various capes, long strings with affixed brass bells, while the crest itself was ornated with cowrie snails, feathers and a long bands of fabric. The horns symbolize cattle, which makes sense, because the young men who have passed “zeu” were looked upon as “nescient” and therefore “scary oxes”.

The object Dance crest “dagu” with the object ID 3034797 was last part of the auction 73rd tribal art auction at May 25, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 201 achieved a sales price of EUR 900.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.

Comparing literature

Guenneguez, André et Afo, Art de la Cote-d'Ivoire et de ses voisins, Paris o.J., p. 107