Mask "deangle" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3033164

Description

light brown wood, partly encrusted blackish brown patina, abundant coiffure of plant fibre cord, in form of plaited strings covering the forehead and forming two lobes aside the temples, two drillings on the forehead, pierced around the rim, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage, on metal base;
“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

Barbier, Jean Paul (ed.), Art of Côte d' Ivoire, Vol II, Genf 1993, p. 60