The large, old mask of the Dan-Kran is carved out of heavy, hard wood and was originally dyed black. Only the inside of the long animal mouth in tubular form is dyed white by means of kaolin. Here there are also a few rows of small, iron spikes (as ‘teeth’). The very rare, old mask has a flat parting with an ‘empowering’ iron bow inserted. The round, protruding forehead displays six dik-dik horns carved in relief and arranged opposite to each other (dik-dik is a small antelope). The mask face is composed of deep-set, triangular eyes, a large, narrow, triangular nose and narrow, protruding cheek arches on both sides. At the top, on the crown of the head and all the way to the temples, along the lower edge of the forehead, and at the outside on its long tubular mouth, the mask displays ornamentation of old decorative nails. The tubular snout, which projects far forward, suggests that a crocodile or an elephant is the prototype for this mask. A very rare mask type of the Dan-Kran, with an old, excellent, partly encrusted patina on the outside and a smooth, shiny usage patina on the inside. An especially interesting piece, with an insignificant, minimal crack to the snout on the front and old colour scuffing to the edges. Otherwise no damage.
Height: 48 cm; width: 20 cm.
First third of the 20th century or earlier.

Provenance:
According to information from the consignor, it was collected at the site of origin by her grandfather, a hydraulic engineer who worked in Africa since the late 1940s, and brought home. Since then: Austrian private collection. (ME)

Lit.:
‘Die Kunst der Dan’ by Eberhard Fischer & Hans Himmelheber, Rietberg Museum, Zurich, ill. 77, 78.