Dan Mask

A highly refined Dan mask of masterful execution, revealing all the subtlety and sculptural power characteristic of Ivory Coast art.

The domed forehead, arched eyebrows, delicately highlighted elongated eyes in relief, broad nasal bridge, prominent cheekbones, and slightly parted fleshy lips compose a face of perfect harmony. The area around the eyes retains superb traces of kaolin and ancient polychromy—a particularly rare occurrence, as these pigments were often washed away to satisfy Western tastes.

This high-quality work is distinguished by its deeply sculptural dimension, where each plane of the face seems animated by an inner tension. The deep, brilliant brown patina, enriched by time and ritual handling, endows the piece with a striking and spiritual presence.

Through its finesse of execution, the rare preservation of its polychromy, and its singular sculptural presence, this mask stands as a remarkable exemplar of the Dan corpus, imbued with dignity, spirituality, and timeless elegance.

Date
Mid-20th century.

Provenance
Spanish private collection. David Serra Gallery, Barcelona. Belgian private collection. Jonas de Boeck Collection.

Literature
BOYER, Alain-Michel, GIRARD, Patrick, and RIVIÈRE, Marceau. Arts premiers de Côte d’Ivoire. Saint-Maur-des-Fossés: Sépia, 1997.
KERCHACHE, Jacques, PAUDRAT, Jean-Louis, and STÉPHAN, Lucien. L’Art africain. Paris: Mazenod, 1988.
MUSÉE DAPPER (dir.). Masques. Paris: Éditions du Musée Dapper, 1995.
[Collective]. L’Autre visage : Masques africains de la collection Barbier-Mueller. Paris: Adam Biro, 1997.

Condition
Traces of white kaolin, partially washed.

Dimensions
Height: 24 cm (35 cm base included).