Dan-Guere (also Ngere, Kran or Wè), Ivory Coast, Liberia: An interesting, old chimpanzee mask, called ‘kaogle’ or ‘kagle’.

This interesting, extremely angular, ‘Cubist’ mask type is used with large costumes during important feasts of the Dan-Guere (also Wè or Dan-Kran) in order to challenge and ‘galvanise’ the audience with earthy jokes and jumps. The present chimpanzee mask is an especially beautiful example of the ‘kaogle’ or ‘kagle’ type: The semicircular, bulging forehead above the deep-set, round eyes protrudes remarkably, as are also the angular cheeks and triangular-shaped nose. Under the nose, the chimpanzee’s round ‘snout’ protrudes even more to the front. The top of the the mask is surmounted by an ‘empowering’ iron bow.
This extraordinary piece displays remains of an original white colouring in the front, with very good shiny patina at the edges and exposed surfaces as a result of the long use of the mask. The patina on the inside confirms this impression. Minor age damage (small tears to the back edge).
Overall a magnificent object: pure ‘Cubism’ in so-called ‘primitive art’! Between c. 1900 and the first third of the 20th century; H: 21.5 cm.

Provenance: Ricqlès auction, Paris, on 6 June 1999, lot no. 136; Auction of the English Collection of Dennis Hotz at Christie’s, Paris, on 14 June 2011, lot no. 186; Serge Schoffel gallery, Brussels; Viennese private collection. (ME)

Lit.: ‘Die Kunst der Dan’ by Fischer & Himmelheber, Rietberg Museum Zurich, ill. 78, 80, 82, 84; ‘African Art in American Collections’ by Robbins & Nooter, ill. 327; ‘The Tribal Arts of Africa’ by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, p. 36, ill. 7.