Dan Gunye Ge Racer Miniature Mask, Côte d'Ivoire #885

Dan Gunye Ge Racer Miniature Mask, Côte d'Ivoire #885Dan Gunye Ge Racer Miniature Mask, Cte d'Ivoire #885 Metal, Plant fibre, Wood Measurements: 18125 cm Provenance: Belgian private collection. Sold with certificate of authenticity Sold with base The circular eyes that permit unhindered vision on the part of the wearer are characteristic of the Racer Mask (Gunye Ge) and the Fire Mask (Zakpei Ge), two mask types originating in the North. The Gunye Ge hold weekly Running Contests during the Dry Season to

• Dan Gunye Ge Racer Miniature Mask, Côte d'Ivoire #885
• Metal, Plant fibre, Wood
• Measurements: 18×12×5 cm
• Provenance: Belgian private collection.
• Sold with certificate of authenticity
• Sold with base
• The circular eyes that permit unhindered vision on the part of the wearer are characteristic of the Racer Mask (Gunye Ge) and the Fire Mask (Zakpei Ge), two mask types originating in the North. The Gunye Ge hold weekly Running Contests during the Dry Season to test the prowess of young Warriors. The Zapkei Ge also appear at this time of the year to inspect cooking fires and prevent possible spreading. A fiber wig and beard would have originally filled the holes around the rim of the mask. This wig would have covered up the scarf that the wearer had to wrap around his head as a rule to further conceal the dancer’s identity.
• References: RAND AFRICAN ART: Dan - masks
  Bibliography: THE ARTS OF THE DAN IN WEST AFRICA: Eberhard Fischer & Hans Himmelheber and AFRICAN ART IN MOTION: ICON AND ACT IN THE COLLECTION OF KATHERINE CORYTON WHITE: Robert Farris Thompson