Dan Female Mask with Regional Style and Wear

Large, elegant and well used Dan female mask, this beautiful old Dan mask with its languid, heavy features, has obvious indications of extensive use and wear. The hairstyle, built up from plaited strips of indigo-dyed native cotton cloth is a regional style marker. The mask once had sheet metal ovals around each eye, but these have been lost, although the marks where they were affixed are visible. Provenance: Purchased Christensen collection, then private collection Southern Highlands.