Rare sickness mask ·  Libéria, Dan · ID: 3038073

Description

wood, matt blackish-grey patina, encrusted in some areas, asymmetrical form of the face (distorted by paralysis of the peripheral facialis nerve), the left alar wing and the right half of the mouth missing (rotted away by endemic syphilis or gangosa), even the right eye affected, remains of an old collection label (unreadable), slightly dam., small traces of insect dam., stained;
when these masqueraders appear, they continually scratch themselves with great vigor, limping about and appearing to collapse. Whoever laughs at them must pay an immediate fine, or else suffer infliction of the same sort of facial disorder. For this reason, mothers shepherd their children indoors whenever such a masquerade appears. The mask has educational and entertaining function rather than any meaning for healing illnesses.

Littérature comparée

Harley, George W., Masks as agents of social control in Northeast Liberia, Milwood 1975, pl. IX, a Fischer, Eberhard & Hans Himmelheber, Die Kunst der Dan, Zürich 1976, p. 118