This is the rating and price for African Dan Mask With Cowry Shells 20Th. C.

Description : TheÊDan peopleÊlive in Ivory Coast, Liberia and Guinea, or possible Congo region. Like all Dan masks, polychrome wood with cowries shells & twine, this mask was considered sacred and not intended to represent spirits but was rather the spirits the Dan believed inhabit the surrounding forest. Mask made by the Dans who were a fierce, warring people. It's their belief that masks, such as this, are not representations of spirits, they are the spirits, used exclusively in dances at ceremonies. It is made of hard wood include concave surface surrounded with cloth over which a smooth patina coat is applied to give a smooth skin to achieve a strong aesthetics preferred by the Dan tribe. The cowry shells sewn into the cloth gives the mask a rich prestige since cowries were once currencies in the civilization. Calm and beautiful, it affords the dancer who would wear it at ceremonies grace and comeliness. When the masked dancer goes into trance, a wise man is called upon to listen to the spirit's otherworldly tongue and translate the message to the tribe. CONDITION good, two facial cracks with one cowry shell loose and one missing. H. 11'' W. 7'' D. 4 1/2''. ''Provenance Anne Narosny African Art Collection Estate'' Sale # 1 of 3''
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Estimate (low-high) : 200 USD-350 USD It's free to register now to view!

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