Racing mask - Dan - Côte d'Ivoire
06
days
13
hours
15
minutes
27
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 137024 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Masque de course, a Dan Gunyege wooden mask from Côte d'Ivoire, carved from bois, measuring 205 mm high by 125 mm wide by 60 mm deep, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Dan
Wood
Height: 205 mm
Width: 125 mm
Depth: 60 mm
This carved wooden mask comes from the Dan ethnic group, 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 masquerade masks, traditionally called Gunyege (or Gunture).
1. Stylistic features and morphology
Dan art is renowned for its streamlined forms and plastic rigour, but unlike mediation masks with half-closed eyes (such as the Deangle), the chase mask imposes specific characteristics related to its physical function:
Large circular eyes: This is the absolute distinctive trait of Gunyege. The eyes are carved as two wide, round, fully open orbits. This feature gives the wearer a maximal, panoramic field of vision, essential for running through the village without hindrance.
Face structure: The mask presents a beautiful classic oval, with a high, slightly domed forehead. The nose is straight, short, and triangular. The mouth is realistically carved with full lips, well-defined and slightly parted, sometimes revealing a horizontal slit.
Patina and perforations: The exterior face shows a dark, matte patina, revealing the natural marks of time and use. The entire outer rim is dotted with regular perforations. These allowed for cords to attach a fabric or fiber headdress, but also to securely fix the mask to the runner’s face so it would not move during action.
Back with functional aspect: The inner face shows careful yet vigorous hollowing work, where the tool marks of the sculptor remain visible under a lighter patina of wear, marked by repeated contact with the faces of initiates.
2. Social and ritual use: Dry season races
Among the Dan, masks are not mere objects of spectacle; they embody the spiritual forces of the bush. The Gunyege expresses the spirit of competition, speed, and masculine vitality.
Inter-neighborhood competitions: The mask is used during the dry season, a period when agricultural work is suspended. Jousts and speed races are organized between different quarters of a village or between neighboring villages.
The game mechanism: A young athletic man, designated to wear the mask, is pursued by another, non-masked runner. If the masked wearer is caught, he must cede 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 seemingly playful, these competitions strengthen social cohesion, channel the energy of young warriors, and honor the spirits through demonstrations of physical strength and vitality.
3. Symbolic meaning
The Gunyege mask symbolises speed and the instinct of certain bush animals, such as the gazelle or the leopard. By wearing the mask, the young initiate temporarily appropriates this animal power.
It is an artefact that glorifies physical performance and the spirit of male emulation, while reminding us of the porous boundary between the civilized village world and the wild, untamed energy of the surrounding nature.
Packages 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 in 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: 205 mm
Width: 125 mm
Depth: 60 mm
This carved wooden mask comes from the Dan ethnic group, 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 masquerade masks, traditionally called Gunyege (or Gunture).
1. Stylistic features and morphology
Dan art is renowned for its streamlined forms and plastic rigour, but unlike mediation masks with half-closed eyes (such as the Deangle), the chase mask imposes specific characteristics related to its physical function:
Large circular eyes: This is the absolute distinctive trait of Gunyege. The eyes are carved as two wide, round, fully open orbits. This feature gives the wearer a maximal, panoramic field of vision, essential for running through the village without hindrance.
Face structure: The mask presents a beautiful classic oval, with a high, slightly domed forehead. The nose is straight, short, and triangular. The mouth is realistically carved with full lips, well-defined and slightly parted, sometimes revealing a horizontal slit.
Patina and perforations: The exterior face shows a dark, matte patina, revealing the natural marks of time and use. The entire outer rim is dotted with regular perforations. These allowed for cords to attach a fabric or fiber headdress, but also to securely fix the mask to the runner’s face so it would not move during action.
Back with functional aspect: The inner face shows careful yet vigorous hollowing work, where the tool marks of the sculptor remain visible under a lighter patina of wear, marked by repeated contact with the faces of initiates.
2. Social and ritual use: Dry season races
Among the Dan, masks are not mere objects of spectacle; they embody the spiritual forces of the bush. The Gunyege expresses the spirit of competition, speed, and masculine vitality.
Inter-neighborhood competitions: The mask is used during the dry season, a period when agricultural work is suspended. Jousts and speed races are organized between different quarters of a village or between neighboring villages.
The game mechanism: A young athletic man, designated to wear the mask, is pursued by another, non-masked runner. If the masked wearer is caught, he must cede 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 seemingly playful, these competitions strengthen social cohesion, channel the energy of young warriors, and honor the spirits through demonstrations of physical strength and vitality.
3. Symbolic meaning
The Gunyege mask symbolises speed and the instinct of certain bush animals, such as the gazelle or the leopard. By wearing the mask, the young initiate temporarily appropriates this animal power.
It is an artefact that glorifies physical performance and the spirit of male emulation, while reminding us of the porous boundary between the civilized village world and the wild, untamed energy of the surrounding nature.
Packages 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 in 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
