Mask "zakpai" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Dan - Diomandé · ID: 3037488

Description

wood, beautiful rich blackish brown patina, plant fibre, regular facial features with delicate arching eyebrows and the characteristic big circular eyes, remains of mass around the rim refer to original framing with metal sheet, coiffure from plaited plant fibre, arranged tight around the head and spread with mass, in loose lobes at the temples, originally three leather amuletts attached to the head (one missing), slightly dam., min. abrasion (nose), minor missing part backside at the rim (chin area), mounted on original pedestal made by Kichizô Inagaki (1876-1951), with signature;
such masks are called runner masks, “running juju”. They are widespread among the northern Dan (because of the dry area they are mostly needed there). Worn by the fastest runner of the village, they are supposed to warn the inhabitants and call for help in case a fire breaks out. They used to wear face masks with big circular eyes and a coating of red fabric, completed by a head gear with big leaves “bülä” and a rough costume with short fibre skirt. Their “weapon” was a short branch while their companion used to beat a slit gong. They only appeared in dry season and their sole task was to control the cooking fire places within the village. They are not dancing or singing, they are just rumping with the youngsters of the village.

L’objet Mask “zakpai” avec l’ID d’objet 3037488 a fait partie de la dernière vente aux enchères 78th tribal art auction dans 18 octobre 2014 le Zemanek-Münster Hôtel des ventes. L’objet portant le numéro de lot 220 a atteint un prix de vente de 7 000 €.

Vous trouverez d’autres Masques et autres types d’objets populaires sur nos pages thématiques associées. Notre page sur le thème Art africain pourrait également vous intéresser.