Dan Zakpai Mask

Ivory Coast/Liberia

Early 20th c

11 inches high x 9 inches wide

Ex: New Mexico collection

SOLD

Inv. # 3733

The Dan Zakpai is a fire prevention mask from the northern savanna of the Dan  The fastest runner of the village are selected to report fires to the people in the surrounding areas.  The Zakpai dancers aggressively ensure that women extinguish their cooking fires before the afternoon winds blow. The wooden mask is decorated with burlap bundles, cowrie shells, animal hair, reptile skin, metal teeth and remnants of red fiber.

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