Dan Mask from Ivory Coast, Africa, 1950

Very large painting by the Ivorian artist Well Rimo. From the streets to the auction room, Rimo has had an exceptional career. In March 2023, he sold two of his paintings at auction,...

Tchokwé mask from Angola once owned by the American Abstract Expressionist artist Merton D. Simpson (1928 - 2013) renowned both for his work and as a dealer and collector of early Af...

Beautiful funerary terracotta urn called from the Bura region (Niger) in West Africa. This cylindrical anthropomorphic sculpture is adorned with geometric designs. It depicts a human...

Bamana N'tomo mask, Mali, 20th century "Generally surmounted by three to eight horns forming a comb, the N'tomoface mask refers to a moment of compulsory education given to uncircumcised young boys in certain West African societies. The mask's discreet, even absent, mouth emphasizes the behavior expected of them in their future adult life after training: controlling and measuring their words, knowing how to keep quiet, preserving secrets and enduring pain in silence." Excerpt from Masques du N'tomo, Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière Collection, Musée du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac, France. The Bambara, or Bamana, live in central and southern Mali. Their name means “unbeliever” and was given to them by the Muslims. Animists, they believe in the existence of a creator god called Ngala, who maintains the order of the universe and coexists with another androgynous god called Faro, master of the Word, who gave all qualities to mankind and makes the fruits of the earth grow. Traditional Bamana art objects are closely linked to agrarian rites. The Bamana dance these masks during initiation and circumcision ceremonies for young boys in the Ntomo society. The face, with its vertical outgrowths at the top, adopts geometric features beneath a rounded forehead, including an imposing busted nose, as the Bamana favor this organ in their statuary as it evokes sociability and clan cohesion. Indeed, during choreography, the dancer frequently touches the nose of the mask. As teaching aids for candidates, masks from societies accessible to young boys and adults, such as the N'tomo, Korè and Ci wara...

An african Dan Gabon dance mask. Ivory Coast. Good condition. Signs of wear. Visible marks.

African Dan Yakuba Guard Mask Small Shells and Bells from the Ivory Coast 1970s Female wooden mask with rich decoration of textile elements, small shells and ceramic beads. The mouth...

The Senoufo people inhabit areas spanning southern Mali, southern Burkina Faso, and northern Côte d'Ivoire. They are organized around the poro, a male initiation system where young boys learn their social and religious roles in sacred woods, away from the village. Initiation ceremonies can last up to twenty-one years, and ritual objects are carved by specialized artisans. The Kpélié mask...

African Dan mask from Ivory Coast with stitched and nailed cloth.