African Arts Gallery

African mask "Déanglé", wearing a thick braided finery, and whose thin face with half-closed eyes testifies to the quality of Dan sculpture.
Matte black patina.
It was after dreams in which the spirits would manifest themselves that the masks were sculpted according to precise indications, in order to be able to be honored through their appearances.
Dan masks, of varying craftsmanship, usually occur during highly theatrical entertainment parties where women play a prominent role. The so-called "mocking" mask called Déanglé defines an ideal of beauty and benevolence because it is sculpted in honor of young girls from the village or famous men. Each of the masks had a name linked to its function. Also used during circumcision rites, they appear in the company of singing masks gle sö and large go ge masks relating to go society, which exercises justice and maintains social stability.