On view
African Art
Gunyege mask,
20th century
Artist unrecorded
Dan
2017-166
The round, tubular protruding eyes of this Dan mask distinguish it as a representation of Gunyege (or Gunye Gä), a spirit known for his speed. The application of organic materials—possibly food, animal blood, and oils—produced a thick surface on this mask, softening the facial planes. During the dry season, masked and unmasked runners competed in races; the winners were allowed to keep their masks and protect their right to personify Gunyege, the community’s champion runner. A row of imported metal tacks lines the edge of the chin and may have once secured tufts of hair. At one time, the metal tacks along the forehead ridge may have fastened a cloth headband that held the mask in place on the head.
Information
Title
Gunyege mask
Dates
20th century
Maker
Medium
Wood, organic material, metal, and upholstery studs
Dimensions
27.3 × 15.2 × 10.2 cm (10 3/4 × 6 × 4 in.)
25.4 x 14.6 x 7.6 cm
Credit Line
Gift from the Holly and David Ross Collection
Object Number
2017-166
Place Made
Africa, Côte d’Ivoire
Type
Materials
Techniques
Subject
Olafson collection; [Phillips, New York, African and Oceanic Art, April 9, 1987]; purchased by Kurt Gluckselig, New York, NY, April 9, 1987; purchased by Lisa Bradley, New York, NY, before 2005; purchased by Holly and David Ross, Princeton, NJ, 2005; donated to the Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ, 2017.
