Passport Mask

Dan people, Ivory Coast
19th-early 20th century
Wood

Provenance: Craig Delora, New Jersey

This refined example of a Dan passport mask (also known as a ma go or gunyé ge) was worn as a personal identity marker, functioning much like a symbolic passport. Such masks were owned by individuals and used during travel, negotiations, village visits, and ceremonial encounters, serving to announce identity, social standing, and spiritual affiliation while offering protection through the presence of a guiding spirit (ge).

Carved with remarkable restraint and sensitivity, the mask exemplifies the Dan aesthetic of naturalism tempered by abstraction. The elongated, gently pointed nose creates a strong vertical axis, while the full, projecting lips—slightly parted—lend the face a quiet vitality. The softly modeled planes of the cheeks and forehead give the mask a calm, introspective expression.

The surface is covered in a deep, dark patina built up through age, handling, and ritual use. Areas of encrustation remain intact, particularly within recesses and along the contours of the face, reinforcing the mask’s authenticity and long ceremonial life. This rich surface treatment enhances the sculptural depth of the carving and gives the object a gravitas that belies its modest scale.