A Dan fetish mask from the Man region

A Dan fetish mask, Cote d'Ivoire, collected in the Man region, the surface decorated with ines of ropes glued to it; signs of age and ritusl use. Certificate of origin and provenance.

"The border between Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia cuts across several ethnic groups, including the Dan, Wee, Kran, and Grebo. In Dan or Bassa society, dangerous immaterial forest spirits are translated into the forms of human face masks. Whether or not they are worn, such sculptures are spiritually charged. Male performers, gle-zo, experience a dream sent by the mask spirit that allows them to dance it. In performance, the masks are integrated into the hierarchical system that governs political and religious life. Source: Met Museum, New York

Height: 21 cm
Weight: 0,8 kg incl. stand