Masks are the most important art form of the Dan people who live on both sides of the border between Ivory Coast and Liberia.

The Dan people refer to these masks as gle or ge, terms that refer both to the physical mask and the individual spirits the mask is believed to embody during masquerade performances.

The mythology of the Dan peoples tells us that they received the mask from their creator, Zlan.

As an independent supernatural being, the mask serves as a tool of communication both between humans, and between humans and their ancestors, to help resolve problems of all kinds.

Carved from a single piece of soft wood, this oval face mask features a large circular eye hole, and nose and mouth in high relief. The elliptical mouth exhibits a narrow slit separating the mask’s lips. The mask’s rims are pierced with irregular holes for attaching the rest of the costume.