ON SALE

Dan masks are thought to be the realized spirit not just a vessel to temporarily house the entity but the actual supernatural force albeit ancestor or forest. In Liberia, there are a wide variety of Dan face mask each of which has a different function. They are used, as example, to name a few, during dance and ritualistic ceremonies to spread tribal news, glorify ancestors, revive ancient tales, to ridicule and or penalize village wrongdoers, to reinforce fire prevention awareness and to guide young initiates through rites of passage. The participants in the affair have their roles dictated by the mask that they are allowed to wear. Today many of the masks have lost their specific function and are used for entertainment purpose in conjunction with elaborate costuming and appropriate singing and dancing. The bird represented by the Gegon is the hornbill, important in Dan mythology as the first being created by Zlan (the supreme being) and as bringer of the palm oil, which is an important food source of the Dan. Ge gon today dances strictly for entertainment, although it is thought long ago to have sung songs and proverbs to instruct the people in the importance of this mythological bird. The mask offered here is nicely crafted and well formed from a native hard wood. Decorated with beautiful bas relief shell like forms on the forehead, whitened with kaolin and speckled with studs throughout the facial area all serving to highlight the pronounce sharp beak. The deep set kaolin encrusted eyes add an eerie supernatural touch!

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Dimensions: 11 1/2 inches long x 7 inches from widest point x 4 inches deep.  

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