Dan passport mask
Africa, Ivory Coast, Dan
L. 21 cm. W. 5.5 cm.
Wood
Miniature masks often called passport or Ma masks are found amoung the various people of Liberia and Ivory Coast. Sharing a wide variety of uses they are the personal masks of initiated adult men and would be carried on their person or kept on personal shrines in the home. They serve to mark the passage of an initiate into the men's secret society and his elevation into the higher ranks. The small masks may be presented at meetings of senior members of the men's society to indicate their right to be present and participate in the deliberations.
Passport masks were also used as an actual passport when traveling from one area to an other.
(From The Tribal Arts of Africa - Jean-Baptiste Bacquart) The Dan also carried small masks (less then 20 cm. high) which are sometimes called passport masks. They were sewn onto a piece of cloth and kept in a leather pouch and possibly worn in the small of the back. They are miniature copies of a family mask and sometimes received libations. These apotropaic masks also act as witnesses during initiation ceremonies.
Price €255,00 all incl.
