Description
PRODUCT DETAILS + Brand - Unbranded + Type of Object - Mask + Country of Origin - Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia + People - Dan or Guere-Wee(We) + Materials - Wood, pigment, fiber, shells, animal skin + Height (in) - 15.5 + Width (in) - 13 + Depth (in) - 3 + Overall Condition - Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, & have been treasured by several owners + Damage/Repair - Some wear on the beads, tiny chip on the nose. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION Oral traditions describe the Dan society of the 19th century as lacking any central governing power. Social cohesion was fostered by a shared language & a preference for intermarriage. Generally, each village had a headman who had earned his position of advantage in the community through hard work in the fields & through luck as a hunter. They usually surrounded themselves with young warriors for protection from invading neighbors & exchanged gifts with other chiefs in order to heighten their own prestige. Out of this custom was born the basic tradition of tin among the Dan, which was based on displaying one's success in order to build a good reputation & name. SKU: 142847 Dan Guerre Guere Mask With Cowrie Shells Côte D'ivoire
