Facial mask Dan Wobe - SOLD OUT
The border between Ivory Coast and Liberia cuts across several ethnic groups, including the Dan, Wee, Kran, and Grebo. In Dan society, dangerous immaterial forest spirits are translated into the forms of human face masks. Whether or not they are worn, such sculptures are spiritually charged. Male performers, gle-zo, experience a dream by the spirit spirit that allows them to dance it. In performance, the masks are integrated into the hierarchical system that governs political and religious life.Dan masks have been documented as at least in the past by artistic personality. Among these are Deangle, Wobe, who ventures into the village of initiation; Tankagle and Bagle, who entertained by a range of aesthetically pleasing dances, skits, and mimes; Gunyege, whose mask is worn by a community's champion foot racers in competitions; and Bugle, who historically leads men into battle.They are divorced from their performance contexts, however, mask forms are difficult to identify. Performance of Bete and Wee masks may be used in the careers of many generations of wearers, contributing to the supreme status of these objects. A masquerade's vitality can also be transferred from one mask to another. Over time, any respected Dan mask may eventually be raised to the category gunagle, the mask that represents a village quarter, or wa, a judicial mask.Origin : private collection, FranceDating: 1940'sSize : 25 x 15 cmMaterials : wood, libations
00238
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Mid XXth century
- Size
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection France
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The border between Ivory Coast and Liberia cuts across several ethnic groups, including the Dan, Wee, Kran, and Grebo. In Dan society, dangerous immaterial forest spirits are translated into the forms of human face masks. Whether or not they are worn, such sculptures are spiritually charged. Male performers, gle-zo, experience a dream by the spirit spirit that allows them to dance it. In performance, the masks are integrated into the hierarchical system that governs political and religious life.Dan masks have been documented as at least in the past by artistic personality. Among these are Deangle, Wobe, who ventures into the village of initiation; Tankagle and Bagle, who entertained by a range of aesthetically pleasing dances, skits, and mimes; Gunyege, whose mask is worn by a community's champion foot racers in competitions; and Bugle, who historically leads men into battle.They are divorced from their performance contexts, however, mask forms are difficult to identify. Performance of Bete and Wee masks may be used in the careers of many generations of wearers, contributing to the supreme status of these objects. A masquerade's vitality can also be transferred from one mask to another. Over time, any respected Dan mask may eventually be raised to the category gunagle, the mask that represents a village quarter, or wa, a judicial mask.Origin : private collection, FranceDating: 1940'sSize : 25 x 15 cmMaterials : wood, libations