gunye ge (racer mask), unrecorded Dan artist

Artwork Overview

unrecorded Dan artist, gunye ge (racer mask)
unrecorded Dan artist
mid 1900s–1982
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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Images

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.

Exhibitions

Reinhild Kauenhoven Janzen, curator
1983