Antique Dan “Fire Runner” Mask | Ivory Coast

Antique mask belonging to the tradition of the Dan people of West Africa, specifically to the Zakpai category, also known as “fire runner masks.” Worn by young men fully covered in ritual costumes, these masks were used during the dry season to run from house to house in the villages, with the purpose of extinguishing forgotten hearth fires while the women worked in the fields. A meaningful act that turned the wearers into a sort of “fire brigade” charged with protecting the community from flames.

This mask is a refined example of this type: carved from hard wood, it features a dark brown coloration, with the front side dyed black. It has the typical elongated oval shape, with a pointed chin and a high, smooth forehead that slightly bulges forward. The face is framed by four scarification lines. The eyes, large and round, are a distinctive feature of Zakpai masks; the nose is short and slightly curved, while the protruding mouth is well shaped and open.

The mask is in excellent condition and displays a beautiful shiny patina from use, both on the front and back.
The wrought iron base was specifically made to support this mask.

Provenience: Ivory Coast / Liberia
Period: First half of the 20th century.

Dimensions: 23 X 14.5 cm (9 X 5.7 inches)