This is the rating and price for Unusual 20Th C. African Dan Wooden Tribal Mask

Description : West Africa, Liberia or Cote d'Ivoire, Dan peoples, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. An interesting tribal mask, hand-carved from hardwood, with an anthropomorphic face and an abstract zoomorphic snout. The face is composed of wide, slit-form eyes set beneath curved brows and a smooth brow, with contoured cheeks, and a crested nose bridge. The snout protrudes outwards with the elongated nose stretching on top, the narrow mouth situated in front, with several oxidized nails driven through the sides of the jaw to emulate teeth. With a carved-out verso and covered in a lustrous dark-brown patina, this is an intriguing example from the Dan peoples. Size: 12 L x 5.55 W x 12 H (30.5 cm x 14.1 cm x 30.5 cm). The Dan people, who occupy portions of Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire, produce masks for nearly every element of occasion of their society, including education, war, peace, and entertainment. Dan artisans, when crafting these masks, looked to the natural world for inspiration and would then go beyond that to create an abstract and stylized rendering. Such masks were created to connect the owner with a specific spirit that is believed to offer guidance and protection. 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 such masks during ritual dances and celebrations, they were typically kept safe in sacred huts when not in use. Provenance: ex-collection of the late Peter Arnovick, San Francisco, California, USA 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. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #135902
Price: 747.00 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 1200 USD-1800 USD It's free to register now to view!

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