127 - DAN, Ivory Coast / Liberia

DAN, Ivory Coast / Liberia Anthropomorphic mask with an articulated jaw Carved wood with a reddish-brown patina, animal skin, tufts of hair, and cords. An elongated face with a high, domed forehead and raised eyebrow arches above eyes marked by circular openings. Long, straight nose with a sharp bridge; flat cheeks; and parallel grooves running along the lateral contours of the face. The lower part consists of a hinged jaw covered with animal skin. Mounting holes and ties preserved on the reverse. H.: 29.5 cm. Provenance: According to information provided by the family, this mask was collected by André Del Lallemand during his assignments in West Africa, likely during the 1920s. Since the Dan people have historically been settled in a region now divided mainly between western Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, the mask may have been acquired during one of his stays in Africa. It was then kept in André Del Lallemand’s family and passed down through the generations to the current owner. A Knight of the Legion of Honor and recipient of the Military Medal and the War Cross, Colonial Infantry Chief Warrant Officer André Del Lallemand undertook several campaigns and overseas assignments during his career, notably in Africa, before also serving in French Indochina.