Dan, Ivory Coast, Liberia: A ‘fire runner’ or ‘Zakpai mask’.
A typical Dan mask with large, round eyes. Masks such as the present one are known as ‘fire runner masks’ because they were worn by young men who ran through the villages of the Dan dressed in full body costumes in order to extinguish ‘forgotten’ stove fires while the women were at work in the fields.
The present mask is a beautiful, old example of a ‘fire runner’ or ‘Zakpai mask’: with the frequent vertical scar in relief on the forehead, round eyes, accentuated cheekbones and a protruding open mouth. The chin features some holes formerly used for attaching a fibre beard. Originally, the present mask was dyed black on the front side. Colour abrasion is probably due to age. Also, on the left half of the face a long, vertical tear is detectable, which was mended with an old original repair. On the inside, the mask displays very old, good usage patina and a label from an earlier collection (1963).
First third of the 20th century; H: 22 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Galerie Bienenstein, Vienna; Austrian Private Collection.
Lit.: 'Die Kunst der Dan' by Fischer & Himmelheber, Museum Rietberg Zurich; fig. 42, 43, 44, 57.
Expert: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
26.05.2015 - 15:00
- Odhadní cena:
-
EUR 4.000,- do EUR 5.000,-
Dan, Ivory Coast, Liberia: A ‘fire runner’ or ‘Zakpai mask’.
A typical Dan mask with large, round eyes. Masks such as the present one are known as ‘fire runner masks’ because they were worn by young men who ran through the villages of the Dan dressed in full body costumes in order to extinguish ‘forgotten’ stove fires while the women were at work in the fields.
The present mask is a beautiful, old example of a ‘fire runner’ or ‘Zakpai mask’: with the frequent vertical scar in relief on the forehead, round eyes, accentuated cheekbones and a protruding open mouth. The chin features some holes formerly used for attaching a fibre beard. Originally, the present mask was dyed black on the front side. Colour abrasion is probably due to age. Also, on the left half of the face a long, vertical tear is detectable, which was mended with an old original repair. On the inside, the mask displays very old, good usage patina and a label from an earlier collection (1963).
First third of the 20th century; H: 22 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Galerie Bienenstein, Vienna; Austrian Private Collection.
Lit.: 'Die Kunst der Dan' by Fischer & Himmelheber, Museum Rietberg Zurich; fig. 42, 43, 44, 57.
Expert: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
|
Horká linka kupujících
Po-Pá: 10.00 - 17.00
kundendienst@dorotheum.at +43 1 515 60 200 |
| Aukce: | Mimoevropské a domorodé umění |
| Typ aukce: | Salónní aukce |
| Datum: | 26.05.2015 - 15:00 |
| Místo konání aukce: | Wien | Palais Dorotheum |
| Prohlídka: | 20.05. - 26.05.2015 |