Hello, this item is a Central African carved wooden mask, most consistent with Dan or related Mano cultural traditions from Liberia or western Côte d’Ivoire, dating to the mid 20th century. The elongated oval face, softly modeled cheeks, narrow almond-shaped eyes, pointed chin, and restrained mouth carving align with classic Dan-style portrait masks, which were traditionally used in community ceremonies, dances, and social regulation rituals. The attached braided fiber coiffure represents stylized hair, a feature commonly added to enhance performance presence. The wood surface shows a darkened patina from handling and age, and the fiber elements appear naturally aged, supporting this as a genuine ethnographic piece rather than a recent decorative souvenir. The compact size, approximately 9.25 inches in height excluding fiber, corresponds to personal or village-scale masks rather than large ceremonial examples.

From a market perspective, mid-20th century Dan and Mano masks of this size and quality typically sell in the range of USD 600 to USD 1,500, depending on carving refinement, surface patina, and originality of attached fibers. Museum-grade early examples can exceed USD 5,000, while later tourist pieces usually trade below USD 400. Based on the carving quality, authentic surface wear, and intact braided fiber elements visible here, this example carries a realistic current fair market value of approximately USD 800 to USD 1,200.