Mask "deangle" ·  Ivory Coast, Dan · ID: 3032324

Description

wood, slightly encrusted dark brown patina, of oval form, a convex facial plane, forehead and nose accentuated by a vertical ridge, pierced around the rim, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage, fissures;
“deangle” literally means a “joking and smiling” mask character. The name implies that a friendly and beautiful appearance is described, determined to entertain the people. The “dean” mask characters belong to the circumcision camps (“mbon”) of young boys and girls, which are always situated in the holy forest nearby the village.

Comparing literature

Fischer, Eberhard, Himmelheber, Hans, Die Kunst der Dan, Zürich 1976, ill. 16