Ancestral Dan Mask ‘Deangle’ with Cowrie Shells Large

To the Dan people, the ‘Deangle’ embodies the spirit of an individual ancestor during masquerade performance.
These masks are worn as masquerades by young men during ‘Poro’ rituals and other ceremonies to honor the ancestral spirit and seek its blessings.

It’s important to note that although the Deangle Spirit is genderless, they are thought to possess female qualities. They represent mother earth. The masks are believed to have the power to protect against evil forces and to bring fertility and prosperity to the community.

This particular Spirit is stunning with delicately carved typical Dan features.
Her overall colour is of plain wood with a rich patina and russet and kaolin.

She has a turban headdress of cowrie shells and raffia weave.
Large domed forehead with a single scarification welt in russet colour running down to the tips of her nose.
Large hooded brows in kaolin white, with sunken lids and large bulging frog eyes.
The kaolin has acquired a rich yellowing patina from over the years.
Her nose is straight, relatively small and flares out in the corners.
Her cheeks are sunken and saggy with the cheekbones in kaolin.
Her lips are full and also stained in kaoline.

This is a large sized mask, with a nice age partina to it, judging by the back of the mask.
The overall condition is very good.