These masks of the ‘Deangle’ type, with slit eyes, are worn by men of the Dan people as full body costumes, in order to supervise and take care of the young initiates in the isolated bush camp. The present, especially beautiful specimen of a ‘Deangle mask’ is made of hard wood and dyed black. With 'classic' face and pointed chin. Hairstyle and bonnet of locally woven fabric. An iron pin over the forehead and remains of red textile on the upper lip. With excellent, black shiny patina in the front and visibly old usage patina on the inside. Before 1938/1939; H: 22 cm. (ME)

Provenance according to consigner: Collected from the Dan on the Ivory Coast by Pieter Jan Vandenhoute in 1938/1939. P. J. Vandenhoute was a pioneer in the investigation of Dan and We (Guéré) art on the Ivory Coast in the 1930s. He is the author of 'Classification stylistique du masque Dan et Guéré de la Cote d'Ivoire occidentale', 1948. Vandenhoute was a pupil and assistant to Frans Olbrechts, director of the ‘Royal Museum for Central Africa’ in Tervuren Brussels. Currently in a Belgian collection.

Literature: 'Die Kunst der Dan' by Eberhard Fischer & Hans Himmelheber, Rietberg Museum Zurich, ill. 1 to 20.