Description: wood, metal, base These masks, with their slit eyes portray a gentle, peaceful type of spirit who makes men joyful when it appears. When the "deangle" masks are used in the boy?s circumcision camp "mbon" located in a sacred forest grove, their function is to instruct boys in adult male responsibilities, social roles, and proper behavior. They act as intermediaries between the circumcision camp and the village and are above all responsible for procuring sufficient food for the initiates. Continent: Africa
Dimensions: H: 26 cm, H: 10,2 inch
Condition Report: See description
Literature: Fischer, Eberhard & Hans Himmelheber, The Arts of the Dan in West Africa, Zurich 1984, p. 11 ff.
Provenance: Hans Himmelheber, Heidelberg, Germany Merton Simpson, New York, USA Swiss Private Collection Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, 23. Februar 2002, Lot 200 Jean-Hugues Rinck, Haguenau, France