Dan Kran Charm Mask
The Dan Kran are a people related to the Dan, from Ivory Coast, and they are located in the southern part of Dan territory. In African Dan art there is a significant diversity of masks worn on very varied occasions and rites.
The Dan ethnic group is not homogeneous, it is made up of subgroups distributed in Ivory Coast and Liberia, offering great typological richness. Among these sub-ethnic groups, the Kran, whose masks are characterized by a variation in three dimensions that is much more marked than classic Dan masks.
They create geometric and powerful masks in their respective functions. These masks, called Kagle, are worn during dances characterized by aggressive movements, full costumes and hooked sticks. Kagle is portrayed as a troublemaker and he represents the brutal force of nature in the bush and by extension, the animals and spirits that live there.
This mask is a miniature version of the Kagle, used as a personal charm. Certain masks linked to the spiritual world were often available in a reduced version to serve as charms, jewelry, accessories or decorative ornaments for daily or ceremonial objects.
This little charming miniature mask has cheekbones protruding to the extreme and joining the plane of the nose. Likewise, the forehead really overlooks the eyes, hiding them in shadow. The toothed mouth is extremely prognathic. This little mask was of course not intended to be worn in front of the face, nor is it pierced with eyes. It is in reality a protective talisman with a patina testifying to its ritual use.
02469
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Circa 1940
- Size
- 11 cm (17 cm with support)
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Jean-Pierre Schmidt Collection
- Stand
- Included
- Condition
- Excellent
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The Dan Kran are a people related to the Dan, from Ivory Coast, and they are located in the southern part of Dan territory. In African Dan art there is a significant diversity of masks worn on very varied occasions and rites.
The Dan ethnic group is not homogeneous, it is made up of subgroups distributed in Ivory Coast and Liberia, offering great typological richness. Among these sub-ethnic groups, the Kran, whose masks are characterized by a variation in three dimensions that is much more marked than classic Dan masks.
They create geometric and powerful masks in their respective functions. These masks, called Kagle, are worn during dances characterized by aggressive movements, full costumes and hooked sticks. Kagle is portrayed as a troublemaker and he represents the brutal force of nature in the bush and by extension, the animals and spirits that live there.
This mask is a miniature version of the Kagle, used as a personal charm. Certain masks linked to the spiritual world were often available in a reduced version to serve as charms, jewelry, accessories or decorative ornaments for daily or ceremonial objects.
This little charming miniature mask has cheekbones protruding to the extreme and joining the plane of the nose. Likewise, the forehead really overlooks the eyes, hiding them in shadow. The toothed mouth is extremely prognathic. This little mask was of course not intended to be worn in front of the face, nor is it pierced with eyes. It is in reality a protective talisman with a patina testifying to its ritual use.