**Originally Listed At $150**

Western Africa, Liberia / Ivory Coast, Dan peoples, ca. early 20th century CE. A lovely duo of hand-carved wooden passport maskettes, with features including pointed chins, prominent noses, domed foreheads, and petite eyes. One mask displays more well-defined eyes, a dark-brown patina, and a convex verso, while the other exhibits a light-brown patina, plaited coiffure, and a concave base. Carried by people in Western Africa as miniature copies of a mask worn during performances, these maskettes were either sewn onto a piece of cloth and kept in a leather pouch, worn on the small of the back, or worn on the arm or neck to act as an amulet. They are called "passport maskettes" because they are worn by people when travelling. Size of largest (plaited coiffure): 2.625" H (6.7 cm).

Provenance: ex-Adeon Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, USA acquired prior to 1970

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#130682

Both maskettes have expected age-commensurate surface wear, fading to facial features, minor nicks to noses, foreheads, and peripheries, otherwise intact and very good. Nice earthen deposits as well as brown patina throughout.