This is the rating and price for Dan Protection Mask Liberia, second half 20th cen

Description : Additional Information: A powerful mask with a special design featuring crossed hands over the face. Protruding forehead with metal studs,large nose, and a prominent mouth. This mask combines details that belong to the Dan and Grebo styles. But detail of the hands over the face makes this mask unique and reflects the unlimited creativity of artists from the Dan.  ,This mask would add a unique piece in any collection although the symbol and meaning of these hands over the face remain unknown to us. We believe this mask belongs to the category of Ji gla, known as warrior mask because of its exaggerate traits.  , The Grebo live in southeast Liberia at the border with the Ivory Coast, with the Bassa people on their west and the Bete and We to their east in the Ivory Coast. , There is no doubt as to the influence of the Grebo style mask upon the development of western art for they are a complete example of geometry in sculpture with the flat face, a long nose and tubular , projectiles. Among the Dan and other neighboring groups masks like this are identified and named based upon their symbolic identification and if this well worn mask is indeed a ‘ji gla’ mask it would have appeared with a very large costume of leaves or grasses and cloths attached covering the wearer so that he was invisible to viewers and to make the mask appear to. The holes around the outer perimeter of the mask were used to attach costume as well as to support a net of woven cords that held the mask onto the face of the dancer. At one time ‘ji gla’ was worn by great warriors and appears during times of great social stress or struggle and being covered in white pigment had an ‘otherworldly' or spiritual sensibility representing a powerful spirit. , When jig la appeared it was accompanied by a retinue of senior men and women in the village who reflected the importance of the mask and enforced its presence. , , The worn outer surface and smoothed inner surface generally indicate long use or some age for wooden masks and this example also. Dan masks of this age and imagery and with the obvious signs of extended use are obviously known to connoisseurs of masks from this region collected for their ‘rough beauty’ and powerful presence. , As a unique example this wonderfully carved mask would become an important addition to any collection. ,  ,Recommended Reading: see: G.W. Harley, Masks as Agents of Social Control in Northeast Liberia (1950) W.C. Siegmann and C.E. Schmidt, Rock of the Ancestors (1977). Jacques Kerchache et al. ART OF AFRICA I have examined this piece and agree with , the description. Niangi Batulukisi, PhD.
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Estimate (low-high) : 1200 USD-1300 USD It's free to register now to view!

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