Racing mask - Dan - Côte d'Ivoire
06
days
22
hours
13
minutes
01
second
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€ 1
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 220 - € 250
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Masque de course, a Dan mask from Côte d'Ivoire, carved in wood with metal and cord, 220 mm high, 130 mm wide and 60 mm deep, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Dan
Wood
Height: 220mm
Width: 130mm
Depth: 60mm
Missing pieces at the top back; see photos.
Dan running mask from Ivory Coast in hard, dense wood.
The Dan, known as Yacouba, live in the west of Ivory Coast and in Liberia, in a wooded region in the south and savanna-covered in the north. Before secret societies united them at the beginning of the century, the Dan lived in autonomous villages led by a chief elected for his wealth and social standing. Today, Leopard Society plays a major role in the life of the Dan.
Dan Ivory Coast running masks (usually called Gunyege or Zapkei depending on local variants) had very specific functions that went beyond mere entertainment.
Recognizable by their large circular eyes (which allowed the wearer to run without visual obstruction), they mainly served three purposes:
1. Sporting and prestige competitions
The primary function of the Gunyege mask ("the mask that runs") was to organize foot races during the dry season:
The mask bearer (a vigorous young man chosen for his athletic talents) challenged other young men in the village.
The goal of the unmasked runners was to surpass the mask or catch up with it. If a runner succeeded, they earned the right to wear the mask in the next races.
These contests allowed young people to prove their strength, speed and agility, bringing them enormous social prestige.
2. Fire control (Zakpei Mask)
In its Zakpei form, this mask with round eyes and a red band over the eyes became the "fire runner."
During the dry season, when the Harmattan wind blows strongly, the risk of thatch-roof huts catching fire is immense.
The mask would rush through the village to monitor women’s cooking fires. If a household was left unattended, the mask would intervene to extinguish the fire, confiscate the pot, or levy a fine. It played the role of a true village firefighter and police officer.
3. Education and initiation of the youth
These masks also intervened during adolescents’ initiation periods in the sacred forest (the learning rites to become men).
The mask served to test the endurance of the initiates, to hunt them down to stimulate them, and to maintain a strict discipline within the initiation camp.
Why this form?
To be able to run and leap without stumbling, the Dan sculptors created a highly ergonomic mask: the round eyes are very large and the mask is often carved as close to the face as possible, sometimes without the heavy attributes (such as large raphia beards) of the wisdom masks, to ensure total freedom of movement.
Packages are dispatched quickly from Monday to Saturday with tracking numbers.
Chronopost delivery between 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and the world via Colissimo International.
We speak english.
Mask african art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateIvory Coast
Dan
Wood
Height: 220mm
Width: 130mm
Depth: 60mm
Missing pieces at the top back; see photos.
Dan running mask from Ivory Coast in hard, dense wood.
The Dan, known as Yacouba, live in the west of Ivory Coast and in Liberia, in a wooded region in the south and savanna-covered in the north. Before secret societies united them at the beginning of the century, the Dan lived in autonomous villages led by a chief elected for his wealth and social standing. Today, Leopard Society plays a major role in the life of the Dan.
Dan Ivory Coast running masks (usually called Gunyege or Zapkei depending on local variants) had very specific functions that went beyond mere entertainment.
Recognizable by their large circular eyes (which allowed the wearer to run without visual obstruction), they mainly served three purposes:
1. Sporting and prestige competitions
The primary function of the Gunyege mask ("the mask that runs") was to organize foot races during the dry season:
The mask bearer (a vigorous young man chosen for his athletic talents) challenged other young men in the village.
The goal of the unmasked runners was to surpass the mask or catch up with it. If a runner succeeded, they earned the right to wear the mask in the next races.
These contests allowed young people to prove their strength, speed and agility, bringing them enormous social prestige.
2. Fire control (Zakpei Mask)
In its Zakpei form, this mask with round eyes and a red band over the eyes became the "fire runner."
During the dry season, when the Harmattan wind blows strongly, the risk of thatch-roof huts catching fire is immense.
The mask would rush through the village to monitor women’s cooking fires. If a household was left unattended, the mask would intervene to extinguish the fire, confiscate the pot, or levy a fine. It played the role of a true village firefighter and police officer.
3. Education and initiation of the youth
These masks also intervened during adolescents’ initiation periods in the sacred forest (the learning rites to become men).
The mask served to test the endurance of the initiates, to hunt them down to stimulate them, and to maintain a strict discipline within the initiation camp.
Why this form?
To be able to run and leap without stumbling, the Dan sculptors created a highly ergonomic mask: the round eyes are very large and the mask is often carved as close to the face as possible, sometimes without the heavy attributes (such as large raphia beards) of the wisdom masks, to ensure total freedom of movement.
Packages are dispatched quickly from Monday to Saturday with tracking numbers.
Chronopost delivery between 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and the world via Colissimo International.
We speak english.
Mask african art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Ethnic group/ culture
Dan
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood / metal / cord
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Racing mask
Sold by
