This large animal mask of the Dan-Kran is carved out of hard, heavy wood and was originally dyed black. It displays a flat hair parting and has a rounded, forward-projecting forehead, on the upper edge of which two dik-dik horns are arranged opposite to each other. The forehead displays wide curved eyebrow arches in relief and, below, two deep-set, triangular eyes, with remains of a white outline. In addition, the mask face is composed of a large, narrow, triangular nose and narrow, protruding cheek arches on both sides. Below, a bulging, pointed animal snout protrudes far forward. Forehead and ‘snout’ are ornamented with old decorative nails. The animal mouth displays a small hole at its pointed end, in which a feather ornament was probably attached when the mask was used for dances. On the underside of the ‘snout’, an all-round row of teeth is carved out from the same piece, and painted white. The teeth suggest that a crocodile was the model for this mask type of the Dan-Kran. The mask might originally have had a movable lower jaw. Two holes exist on each of the two sides for affixing a lower jaw, although this has probably been lost in the course of time. In any event, an interesting, large piece with partly encrusted, shiny patina on the outside and a fine, shiny usage patina on the inside. Only a few, small teeth are broken, otherwise no damage. Height: 45 cm; width: 18 cm. First half of the 20th century.

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 from the late 1940s onwards, and brought home. Since then: Austrian private collection. (ME)

Lit.:
‘Die Kunst der Dan’ by Eberhard Fischer & Hans Himmelheber, Rietberg Museum, Zurich, ill. 81.