Mask "tankagle" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3035444

Description

wood, slightly shiny black patina, narrow sea slits with silver metal framing deepened in a horizontal line, arching eyebrows arranged in concentrical lines, raised vertical forehead ridge, diamond-shaped mouth with metal teeth, diadem and forehead ornament from raffia bast embroidered with nassa snails (loose), slightly dam. (nose tip), paint rubbed off;
“tankagle” means pantomimic dancing mask figure. Such masks used to entertain the audience with varied dances, sometimes with playing little scenes or singing. Their costume consists of a fabric tippet and a voluminous fibre skirt. Completed by “komo”, a bow-shaped bonnet decorated with applications. The mask type performs with orchestra and singers or on its own with a companion.

The object Mask “tankagle” with the object ID 3035444 was last part of the auction 74th tribal art auction at September 7, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 70.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.

Comparing literature

Fischer, Eberhard & Hans Himmelheber, Die Kunst der Dan, Zürich 1976, p. 55 ff.