Set of 6 African, traditional, Dan Masks, from Cote D Ivoire

  

Dan masks are wooden sculptures that are sacred to the Dan people of Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia. Dan masks are carved from a single piece of soft wood and stained with a brown dye. Dan masks have a wide forehead, large eye holes, a projecting chin, and a high relief nose and mouth.

The lips are slightly parted, and the eyes are arched downward. The rim of the mask has holes for attaching it to a costume. Dan masks are spiritually charged and represent dangerous forest spirits. They are used for protection, communication with the spirit world, and invokes, blessings, guidance, and protection. Dan masks are deeply rooted in the Dan people's culture and traditions, dating back centuries.

They have been integral to rituals, ceremonies, and communal gatherings. Dan masks vary in style and form across different regions and subgroups of the Dan ethnic group. Dan masks are guardians of the Dan people's beliefs, rituals, and cultural identity.