gunye ge (racer mask)

unrecorded Dan artist, artist

gunye ge (racer mask), mid 1900s–1982

Where object was made: Liberia

Material/technique: staining; wood; pigment; carving

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 27 x 16.5 x 11 cm
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 10 5/8 x 6 1/2 x 4 5/16 in

Credit line: Gift of Larry W. Welling

Accession number: 2007.2814

Not on display

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Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"For Life's Sake: Arts from Africa," Oct-1983, Reinhild Kauenhoven Janzen
"Gunyega" is the "House" mask-spirit. Its mask appears in competitive races by the fastest young men in a family, and the spirit of the mask is said to help its wearer win. The mask is firmly tied to the head of the racer, a large kerchief usually serves to cover the back of the head. It is important that the entire body of the mask wearer is covered in clothes and in addition he ties a short fiber skirt around the waist.