This is the rating and price for 19Th C. African Dan Wood & Tin Ceremonial Mask

Description : West Africa, Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire, Dan peoples, ca. late 19th to mid-20th century CE. A fabulous and handsome example of a ceremonial dance mask, all hand-carved from wood with twisted vegetal fiber tassels. The ovoid face bears a pair of circular eyes, cut into thick raised rims, a protruding nose, and pursed lips with tin panels set into the opening as teeth. A low relief vertical ridge highlights the forehead which bulges slightly outwards above the rest of the face. The cheeks and chin are covered with a densely woven panel nailed into the wood then covered with clay or resin, the dangling cordage serving as a beard. Set behind the beard, along the rim are several perforations for attaching this mask to a larger costume. Size: 10 L x 5.75 W (25.4 cm x 14.6 cm) The Dan people, who live in Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire, produce masks for nearly every element or occasion of their society, including education, war, peace, and entertainment. In Mande, the Dan language, masks are referred to as gle or ge, which is also the term for the supernatural beings who live outside the village and who can inhabit the masks during ritual practices. Men may have dreams or visions sent by the mask which they interpret through dance. There are over a dozen different characters that the masks represent in skits and mimes, but the meaning of the masks and personalities they portray may change over time as the mask is handed down through the generations. Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #170430
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