TERA Gallery - African Art and Antiquities "Altering The Way You View The World Of Art" |
Type of Object:
Reference:
- Dan Mask
- This classic and well-used mask comes from the Dan
people of Liberia. Famous for their masks, the Dan believe
that spirits, known as "Du," live in the forests and manifest
themselves to humans in masks and masquerades,
instructing and sustaining the Dan in life. Dan masks are
characterized by concave face, pointed chin, protruding
mouth, upturned nose, high corned forehead, and a rich
brown patina.
Masks of this type were used by Poro secret society. They
are associated with the circumcision camps for adolescent
boys. They are also danced for entertainment during village
festivals and ceremonies.
- The Dan are governed largely by secret societies. The
Leopard Society acts as a major regulator of Dan life, and
initiates young men. For them the mask is the channel of
communication with the high god Zian. The intermediaries
in these communications are the spirits of the ancestors
who are invoked through the mask.
- Dan Society
(Gio, Gyo, Yacuba)
- Ivory Coast
Liberia
- Wood, Textile, Cowrie shells, Animal fur
Reference:
