Mask "zakpai" · Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3032866
Sepp Arnemann, Hamburg, Germany
Description
wood, encrusted brown patina, entirely coated with red fabric, mustache made from animal hair, inserted animal teeth, plant fibre beard, package of magical mass and nail on the head, pierced around the rim , rep. (left horn), fissures, slight traces of abrasion, on base;
the present mask type was mostly painted in red or coated with red fabric. The mask was completed by a head ornament with big leaves “bülä” and a chunky costume with a short plant fibre skirt. The “zakpäi” dancers only appeared in dry season and their sole function was to keep control of the cooking fires within the village, which is why they are even called “fire alarm” masks, or “running juju”.
The object Mask “zakpai” with the object ID 3032866 was last part of the auction 69th tribal art auction at June 2, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 135.
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
Guenneguez, André et Afo, Art de la Cote-d'Ivoire et de ses voisins, Paris o.J., p. 53