This mask was carved in the style of the Dan Kran people of Ivory Coast. The mask has typical Kran features with a broad forehead, triangular shaped eyes and flat orbital cavities. This piece also has a protruding break from its forehead. It measures 9.5 inches tall and weighs 2.5 pounds. There is a repair on the bottom of the mask that is held together with leather – please see photos. There is also minor imperfections including scrapes and scuffs. Stand is not included.
| Type of Object | Face Mask |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Ivory Coast |
| Ethnicity | Dan Kran |
| Material | wood, pigment, cowrie shell, fabric, leather |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height | 9.5" |
| Width | 7" |
| Depth | 8.5" |
| Weight | 2.5 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Repair to the bottom of mask held together with leather – scrapes and scuffs throughout |
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Tribe Information
About the Dan Kran People
“Dan people, who are also known by the name Yacuba, live in the western part of the Ivory Coast and into Liberia where the land is forested in the south and bordered by a savannah in the north. The 320,000 Dan people make their living from farming cocoa, rice and manioc. Before unifying secret societies were set up at the turn of the century, each Dan village was an autonomous socio-political unit governed by a chief elected on the base of his wealth and social position. Today, the leopard society acts as a major regulator of Dan life and initiates young men during their isolated periods of three to four months in the forest. Dan people have achieved notoriety in the area for their entertainment festivals which were historically village ceremonies, but are today performed largely for tourists. During these festivals, masked performers dance on stilts.”
“Dan Kran people inhabit the southern part of the Dan territory and have powerful carved masks with geometric triangular features.”
Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.
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