DAN, IVORY COAST

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Dan masks are embodiments of gle or ge, spirits who wish to aid and communicate with human communities but who lack a physical form. Materialized in dream-inspired masks, they attain their desires through the medium of masquerade. The nature and form of both the mask and the dance are conceived by a member of the men’s Poro society, who may perform the dance himself. Gle are mysterious, unpredictable bush spirits with individual personalities and inclinations, and they are given names. Naturally unhabituated to the civilized sphere of the village, their chaotic aspect requires the presence of an attendant at the masquerade to control their volatile behavior and interpret their speech for the community.

Perhaps the most iconic Dan mask among Western collectors is known as dean gle. It is host to a benevolent spirit that seeks to teach and nurture, supporting peaceful activities in the village. Dean gle is technically genderless, though its qualities of idealized beauty and gracious beneficence are often thought of as feminine by both the Dan and outsiders.

This example demonstrates the classic dean gle composition, with an oval face tapering down to a sharp chin, slit eyes set within a lateral depression, and a slightly open mouth with full lips set close below the nose. A vertical ridge in the center of the brow reflects a historical tattoo practice among the Liberian Dan. Facial proportions and details are finely rendered. High, double-row arched brows cut with incisions float above the eyes, contributing to the mask’s serene expression. Around the perimeter of the face is pierced a row of holes by which a coiffure of fiber or shells would have been affixed.