15 - Kaogle-style mask

Kaogle-style mask Hardwood, leather cut out and studded on the upper jaw, wrought iron, antique brown patina, signs of wear on the interior. Dan, Wè/Kran affinities, Ivory Coast 26 × 16 cm. This mask strikes an expressive balance between curves and angles. The rounded forehead overlooks two large triangular openings, deepening the gaze beneath a protruding visor. The powerful nose and the contours of the cheeks lead to a wide, protruding mouth, whose attached jaw accentuates its ape-like character. Belonging to a repertoire shared between the Dan and their Wè/Kran neighbors, kaogle masks evoke creatures of the bush, sometimes likened to monkeys. Their lively and provocative dances introduce disorder into gatherings to better remind people, through play and excess, of the value of restraint and collective rules. The vigor of the forms is thus extended into that of the movement. Comparative Bibliography National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, Face mask, Krahn artist, Liberia, late 19th century, wood, H. 24 cm, inv. 2006-6-1. Gift of Brian and Diane Leyden.