Racing mask - Dan - Côte d'Ivoire
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€ 20
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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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Gunyege mask of the Dan people from Côte d'Ivoire, carved in wood, with height 205 mm, width 125 mm and depth 60 mm, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Dan
Wood
Height: 205mm
Width: 125mm
Depth: 60mm
This carved wooden mask comes from the Dan people, a significant population living in the mountainous regions of western Ivory Coast and Liberia. Within their social and spiritual system, this highly dynamic typology belongs to the category of racing masks, traditionally called Gunyege (or Gunture).
1. Stylistic features and morphology
Dan art is renowned for its minimalist forms and plastic rigor, but unlike mediation masks with half-closed eyes (such as the Deangle), the racing mask imposes specific characteristics tied to its physical function:
The large circular eyes: This is the absolute distinguishing feature of the Gunyege. The eyes are carved as two wide round orbits and are fully open. This feature gives the wearer a maximal panoramic field of vision, essential for running smoothly through the village.
The structure of the face: The mask sits in a handsome classic oval, with a high and slightly domed forehead. The nose is straight, short, and triangular. The mouth is sculpted realistically with fleshy, well-defined and slightly parted lips, sometimes revealing a horizontal slit.
The patina and perforations: The outer face features a dark, matte patina, revealing the natural marks of time and use. The entire outer rim is punctuated with regular perforations. These allowed cords to be inserted to attach a cloth or fiber headdress, but also to securely fix the mask to the runner’s face so it wouldn’t move during the act.
The functional reverse: The inner face shows careful yet vigorous hollowing work, where the sculptor’s tool marks remain visible under a patina of wear, marked by repeated contact with the initiates’ faces.
2. Social and ritual use: Dry season races
Among the Dan, masks are not mere objects of spectacle; they embody the forest’s spiritual forces. The Gunyege expresses the spirit of competition, speed, and masculine vitality.
Inter-neighborhood competitions: This mask is used during the dry season, a period when agricultural work is suspended. Jousts and speed races are then organized between the different quarters of a village or between neighboring villages.
Mechanism of the game: A young athletic man, designated to wear the mask, is pursued by another runner without the mask. If the mask bearer is caught, he must yield the mask to his pursuer, who becomes the new champion to be defeated. These ritual races allow young men to demonstrate their endurance, agility, and bravery before the community.
An educational and social function: Although playful at first glance, these competitions reinforce social cohesion, channel the energy of young warriors, and allow spirits to be honored through demonstrations of physical strength and vitality.
3. Symbolic meaning
The Gunyege mask symbolizes speed and the instinct of certain bush animals, such as the gazelle or leopard. By wearing the mask, the young initiate temporarily takes on this animal power.
It is an artifact that glorifies physical performance and the spirit of masculine emulation, while reminding of the porous boundary between the village’s civilized world and the wild, untamed energy of the surrounding nature.
The parcels are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask African art Afrikanische Maskenkunst 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: 205mm
Width: 125mm
Depth: 60mm
This carved wooden mask comes from the Dan people, a significant population living in the mountainous regions of western Ivory Coast and Liberia. Within their social and spiritual system, this highly dynamic typology belongs to the category of racing masks, traditionally called Gunyege (or Gunture).
1. Stylistic features and morphology
Dan art is renowned for its minimalist forms and plastic rigor, but unlike mediation masks with half-closed eyes (such as the Deangle), the racing mask imposes specific characteristics tied to its physical function:
The large circular eyes: This is the absolute distinguishing feature of the Gunyege. The eyes are carved as two wide round orbits and are fully open. This feature gives the wearer a maximal panoramic field of vision, essential for running smoothly through the village.
The structure of the face: The mask sits in a handsome classic oval, with a high and slightly domed forehead. The nose is straight, short, and triangular. The mouth is sculpted realistically with fleshy, well-defined and slightly parted lips, sometimes revealing a horizontal slit.
The patina and perforations: The outer face features a dark, matte patina, revealing the natural marks of time and use. The entire outer rim is punctuated with regular perforations. These allowed cords to be inserted to attach a cloth or fiber headdress, but also to securely fix the mask to the runner’s face so it wouldn’t move during the act.
The functional reverse: The inner face shows careful yet vigorous hollowing work, where the sculptor’s tool marks remain visible under a patina of wear, marked by repeated contact with the initiates’ faces.
2. Social and ritual use: Dry season races
Among the Dan, masks are not mere objects of spectacle; they embody the forest’s spiritual forces. The Gunyege expresses the spirit of competition, speed, and masculine vitality.
Inter-neighborhood competitions: This mask is used during the dry season, a period when agricultural work is suspended. Jousts and speed races are then organized between the different quarters of a village or between neighboring villages.
Mechanism of the game: A young athletic man, designated to wear the mask, is pursued by another runner without the mask. If the mask bearer is caught, he must yield the mask to his pursuer, who becomes the new champion to be defeated. These ritual races allow young men to demonstrate their endurance, agility, and bravery before the community.
An educational and social function: Although playful at first glance, these competitions reinforce social cohesion, channel the energy of young warriors, and allow spirits to be honored through demonstrations of physical strength and vitality.
3. Symbolic meaning
The Gunyege mask symbolizes speed and the instinct of certain bush animals, such as the gazelle or leopard. By wearing the mask, the young initiate temporarily takes on this animal power.
It is an artifact that glorifies physical performance and the spirit of masculine emulation, while reminding of the porous boundary between the village’s civilized world and the wild, untamed energy of the surrounding nature.
The parcels are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask African art Afrikanische Maskenkunst 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
Indigenous object name
Racing mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Dan
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
