Dan Bu Gle Monkey Mask

Attributed to the Dan people of Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire, this monkey mask is one of many spirit masks believed to channel an essential spiritual force known as "dü." This particular mask is known as Bu Gle and would have been worn to lead men into battle. Intended to frighten its audience, the Bu Gle masquerade was used to create unrest within a community and reinforce ethical and social values. With gracefully sloping features and a darkly smoothed surface, this Bu Gle mask lives on as a storied work of sculpture.