Old Dan Kraan Kagle Mask

Kran Kagle mask. Kran people, Cote D'Ivoire, west Africa. Early 20th Century.

The Kran are a subset of the Dan/We people. Masks are owned by families and appear in ceremonies whose function is social commentary and control. Kagle is an important mythical character based on the chimpanzee, a troublemaker. A Kagle dancer performs a wild dance, mimicking the appearance and antisocial behaviour of chimpanzees, thereby demonstrating the wildness of nature and the dangers inherent in stepping outside of civilised societal norm. By demonstrating such, Kran men performing the disruptive Kagle dance instruct the community on proper conduct.

Wood, metal, remnant white pigment. Kran masks typically have triangular eye holes and stylised, jutting cheekbones framing the face. The rim of the mask is pierced for attachment purposes. Condition: good, but note a prominent but old crack to the rear of the mask as shown in one of the pictures. This mask dates to the early 20th century or earlier and is a used, functioning mask, as can be seen by the wear marks that show at the attachment holes.

Measurements: height 40 cm, width 19 cm, depth 18 cm.