Tribal Art

French African tribal art collection.
Among the African masks of the Ivory Coast, the African masks dan are relatively similar masks. The details differentiating them lie in the shape of the eyes, the mouth, the headdress. The "zapkei ge are responsible for preventing fires by watching over domestic fires. This ancient mask, somewhat atypical and thick, presents resinous volumes in which are inlaid cowrie shells and textiles, animal teeth, modeling and animating the facial features.

For the Dan, or Yacouba, living in the west of the Ivory Coast and in Liberia, the "dü" force that animates the world manifests itself in the sculpted masks. It is in this way that it seeks to bring knowledge to man in order to give him support, and uses the channel of dreams beforehand. The spirits then indicate how to name the mask they wish to see made. These masks of different types are endowed with social, spiritual and political functions, often evolving with time.