A Dan mask from the Man region

A Dan mask, collected in the Man region, border district Ivory Coast/Liberia in West Africa. These masks are highly significant in both their aesthetic value and their spiritual and social functions, serving as powerful symbols of Dan beliefs, identity, and artistic heritage. Incl. stand. Certificate of origin and provenance.

Dan masks are deeply connected to the Dan people's cosmology and social structure, embodying the presence of spirits, or "gle", believed to inhabit the natural world. The masks act as physical manifestations of these spirits during rituals and ceremonies.
Key Functions: Spiritual Mediation: Dan masks are used to mediate between the spiritual and physical worlds, invoking spirits to guide, protect, or instruct the community. Social Regulation: They play a critical role in enforcing laws, resolving conflicts, and maintaining social order through their association with secret societies. Education and Initiation: Masks are integral to initiation rites, teaching young members the traditions, values, and responsibilities of adulthood.

Social and Ritual Contexts
Dan masks are inseparable from the cultural practices and social life of the Dan people.
Secret Societies: Masks are primarily associated with secret societies like the Poro (for men) and Sande (for women), which govern the community's spiritual and social order. Only initiated members are permitted to interact with certain masks.
Ritual Dances: Masks are performed in ceremonies, often accompanied by music, drumming, and storytelling. These performances can bless the community, mark transitions, or entertain.
Conflict Resolution: Masks, particularly those representing authority, may be used in dispute settlements, where the wearer channels a spirit to mediate.

Dan masks are widely studied in anthropology and art history for their duality of form and function—being both practical tools of spirituality and outstanding works of art.

"The masks of the Dan people are not just objects of beauty, but they are living symbols of a dynamic relationship between the human and the divine. Their elegance lies in their ability to merge form, function, and meaning in a single object."
Source: Susan Vogel, African Art Western Eyes.

Height: 23 cm without stand
Weight: 500 g incl. stand