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This mask is stylistically consistent with the masking traditions of the Dan or Baule peoples of West Africa, notably from present-day Ivory Coast and Liberia. Masks in these societies played a central role in ritual performances, secret societies (such as the Dan’s Poro society), judicial proceedings, and community festivities. Carved wooden masks were often accompanied by organic materials such as cloth, raffia, or leather, used either to obscure the wearer’s identity or complete the costume.
By the mid-20th century, alongside authentic ceremonial production, a growing export market also fueled the creation of masks made specifically for collectors and tourists, often still crafted using traditional techniques but without ritual use.

Detailed Description:
The mask, measuring approximately 10 x 12 x 8 inches, is hand-carved from a single piece of dense hardwood, characterized by a smooth patina developed through age and handling. It features stylized facial features: almond-shaped closed eyes, an elongated nose, pursed lips, and delicate geometric scarifications around the cheeks and forehead, typical of traditional West African aesthetic canons.
Attached to the mask is a hand-stitched and aged cloth element, likely cotton, designed to drape around the wearer’s neck or shoulders. The textile shows natural wear and fraying, indicating some age, though not necessarily evidence of ritual use. The mask’s finish and wear patterns suggest genuine age, plausibly dating from the 1950s–1970s, but without definitive proof of ceremonial use.
The piece overall retains good integrity, though the textile’s deterioration is consistent with expected aging of organic materials over decades.