Antique African Mask - Tribal Art - Dan Mask - Ivory Coast - African Art

Second half of the 20th century, circa 1960 Africa - Ivory Coast Private collection, South of France For the sake of absolute transparency towards my clients, this mask is referred to as “Canada Dry,” according to the well-known expression in African art collectors’ circles to designate objects that have the appearance, color, and style of a ritual mask, but which never were. To quote the famous advertising slogan: “It looks like alcohol, it has the color of alcohol… but it is not alcohol.” Here: “It looks like a ritual mask, it has the patina of a ritual mask, but it is not a ritual mask.” This is therefore an old mask, of good quality, made around 1960, probably intended for the local market or collectors, but without ceremonial use. It nevertheless remains a very beautiful decorative and old object, ideal for a first step as a young collector or for a beautiful ambient piece. This oval mask in carved wood, with a dark and deep patina, faithfully reproduces the characteristic features of the productions of the Dan, a people established between Ivory Coast and Liberia: wide mouth with fleshy lips, marked nose, pierced gaze with rounded eyes. Traditional Dan masks were used during rituals of passage, dances or community trials, embodying protective or mediating spirits. The mask that I am offering here has a carefully hollowed-out interior and pierced with peripheral holes for fixing, in accordance with traditional practices. Its old patina, marked by time, with age cracks and wear, gives it a beautiful ethnographic and decorative presence. Carved from a dense wood species, it demonstrates careful work on the volumes and balance of the face. Dimensions: Height: 31 cm ALL DELIVERIES ARE MADE BY DHL EXPRESS ONLY!