Dan Face Mask (Zakpai Ge), Racing Mask Start Price USD 850.00 Current Price USD 850.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 17, 2008 End Time Thursday, July 24, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Dan Face Mask (Zakpai Ge), Racing Mask' Description Title: Dan Face Mask (Zakpai Ge), Racing Mask Type of Object: MaskEthnic Group: Dan YacubaCountry of Origin: Liberia, Cote d'IvoireMaterials: Wood, cotton cloth, bells pigment, shells, hide Approximate Age: 20th centuryDimensions: Height: 9 inchesOverall Condition: Good Damage, Repair: General wearAdditional Information: A well-carved small wooden face mask from the Dan people of Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire. This mask belongs to the category of ‘Zakpai ge’ mask, an active and aggressive mask that serves a number of functions. It is a ‘firewatch’ mask that insures proper use of cooking fires by women and will throw sticks and things about and knock over cookpots with their meals into the fires and may even beat the women if they were careless in their use of fire. In the past it also served as a war mask. This is a classic example of traditional old carving with delicate features, very thin carved wood and with a dynamic profile of the face. Its age and long use is indicated by the numerous small holes that surround the face to hold the additional costume. Further Reading Harley, G.W., Notes on the Poro in Liberia, Papers of the Peabody Museum, Archaeology & Ethnology, XIX, No.2 (Cambridge, MA, 1941) Harley, G.W. Masks as Agents of Social Control in Northeast Liberia, Papers of the Peabody Museum, Archaeology & Ethnology, xxxii, No.2 (Cambridge, MA, 1950) E. Fischer and Hans Himmelheber; The Arts of the Dan in West Africa, (Zurich, 1984) E. Fischer; “Dan Forest Spirits: Masks in Dan Villages”, African Arts, II, no. 2, 1978. pp. 16-23, 94I have examined this piece and agree with the descriptionNiangi Batulukisi, Ph.D. **039657** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!