Mask

Dan people, Liberia, African

20th century

  • Titles Mask (Descriptive)
  • Medium wood
  • Dimensions 3 x 1 3/4 x 3/4 in. (7.6 x 4.4 x 1.9 cm)
  • Credit Line Gift of Benita S. Baird and Ronald E. Barab, 1987.116.2
  • Work Type mask
  • Classification Costume

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Standing male power figure with bent arms resting on distended abdomen; below abdomen, figure is unarticulated block, partially covered by animal skin and waist ornaments (large bell and metal jangles attached to cord). Animal horn emerges vertically from top of head. Face has slitted, bulbous eyes, broad nose, protruding and slightly upturned open mouth, square beard. Necklace of glass beads, animal teeth, seed pods hangs from neck onto abdomen. Umbilical area has opening where medicinal materials once existed.
Dark blackish-brown vessel with rounded bottom has inward-curving neck and everted rim; shoulder has repeating diamonds with protruding oval inside each.
Prestige Cloth, Bamum people, Republic of Cameroon, African, cotton and indigo dye
Staff surmounted by the double axe motif, stylized reference to the thunderbolt believed to be hurled from the skies by Shango, with kneeling female figure.