DAN MASK ZAKPERI FIREWATCH MASK RED CLOTH AFRICA DAN ZAKPEI MASK - WESTERN COTE DIVOIRE 8.7 x 5.5 x 2.2. Around 0.42 Lbs. Wood, felt. Original Dan Zakpei mask, collected in the Western part of Cote dIvoire. Nice shape. The patina is well developed. Additional Information: This classic, early period mask complete with red cloth eye coverings and aluminum on the circular open eyes comes from the Dan people of Liberia. Also known as the Yacuba, the Dan live in politically non-centralized villages and towns ruling themselves through a complex arrangement of family lineages, men’s secret societies, and conjunct initiation ceremonies. Famous for their masks the Dan believe that spirits of the wild known as du manifest themselves in masks and masquerades to humans instructing and sustaining them in life. When in a dream, an individual was instructed by du to dance a mask, he would commission a carver to make a mask for him. Among the Dan masks are grouped in an assortment of forms with different duties assigned to each. Each mask dances a particular role that may reflect duties such as political and social control or judicial responsibilities while other masks declare war or others serve to make peace. Some masks appear to announce the death of important personages and others simply entertain the townspeople. Whatever its purpose each type of mask is named according to its appearance and function and differentiated by its carved form. Masks among the Dan are generally recognized under the term Ge that would roughly equate to our idea of spirits or supernatural beings or forces, most attributed to the forest where the wild spirits live. With its forehead stained with reddish-brown cola nut coloring, red cloth covering the eyes and lips, this striking mask is known as Zakpai ge’ and is an active and aggressive mask that serves a number of functions. It’s primary role is that of a ‘firewatch’ mask that insures proper use of cooking fires by women. Accompanied by drums it confronts a woman who has been using fire carelessly or a fire much too large for its purpose. It appears in a very aggressive dance and will throw sticks and things about, knock over the cook pot with their meals into the fire and may even beat the women who set the fire to cook. Not a friendly mask at all. It also in some areas serves as a war mask. When used the mask had a cloth wrap around the outer edge that covered the dancer when wearing the mask, in fact it may have been hooked onto the small at the nail at the top of the mask, The remains of Kola nut staining on the forehead is the result of ritual spitting of the cola nut as a sacrificial offering. The holes around the edge of the mask were used to hold a woven netting to keep the mask close to the face during the vigorous ‘dance’. This mask shows signs of long use and is a classic example of a Dan mask.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 16:00:21 +0000
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