Rare and extraordinary mask ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Dan · ID: 3053604

Description

wood, plant fibres, cloth, base

A similar mask was in Helena Rubinstein’s collection, see AHDRC 0065506 and the comparative literature.

Masks played a central role within Dan society and shaped religious and social life. As intermediaries between the living and the world of the ancestors, they were intended to secure the ancestors’ favour and obtain their protection for the community. Particular importance was attached to the aesthetic perfection of a mask, as its beauty was regarded as an expression of its spiritual efficacy. This belief fostered the exceptionally high artistic quality of Dan woodcarving.

Field research shows that renowned sculptors studied their colleagues’ work closely and that patrons travelled great distances to commission leading masters. The resulting competition led to a remarkable diversity of innovative forms and to the continuous evolution of Dan masks.

Depending on the context, masks fulfilled different functions – ranging from masked dances and initiation rites to ritual sacrifices or the administration of justice. A mask’s status and function could change over the course of its use, which is why its original purpose can only be deduced from reliable traditions and not solely from its form.

Comparing literature

Joubert, Hélène (ed.), Helena Rubinstein - Madame's Collection, Musée du Quai Branly, 2019, p. 87, ill 64