Dan Mask

Dan mask. Mali, first half of the twentieth century.
In carved wood.
Measurements: 20 x 12 x 42 cm. with stand.
Mask of the Dan ethnic group, representing a French soldier, following the synthetic language of the art of this cultural region: two slits for the eyes, which in this occasion are covered by a red cloth mask, and thick lips between which small teeth show. Provenance: European Private Collection. In Mali, each ethnic group has its own masks, which are used during festivities on the occasion of a marriage, the opening of the market or rites of passage. With the help of music, poetry and the story told by the griots, these festivities are both an amusement and a reminder of social values.