Artwork Page for Face Mask

Details / Information for Face Mask

Face Mask

possibly early 1900s

Africa, West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire or Liberia, Dan-style maker

Medium
Wood, metal, leather, and organic materials
Measurements
Overall: 22.9 cm (9 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Katherine C. White 1972.331
Public Domain
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Location
108A African
Print
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Did You Know?

The eyes of this mask were altered from slits to circles; the original shape is most visible on the right eye.

Description

A Dan face mask's use and the costume that accompanied it are important elements that contribute to the name it receives. While we don't know those details, we can say it originally had an elaborate fiber hairstyle attached through the holes around the edge. Based on its appearance and other similar examples, this face mask with a high forehead in northern Dan style may have been called either sagbwe or gunyege. As a "runner mask," it was engaged in running competitions once organized every Sunday during the dry season. As a "fire-watcher," its main task was to protect the village from fire when the dangerous desert wind called Harmattan blew during the dry season.
A mask made of wood and metal depicts a mottled dark brown oval face. Two large circular eye holes are encircled by silver metal rings held with pins. Below a wide nose, an open mouth reveals jagged teeth. The mask features a large rounded forehead and small, evenly spaced holes drilled around its entire outer edge.

Face Mask

possibly early 1900s

Africa, West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire or Liberia, Dan-style maker

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