Anthropomorphic face mask "gunyege" ·  Côte d'Ivoire / Liberia, Dan · ID: 3048446

Description

wood, metal,
Among the Liberian Dan this mask type is described as a “runner mask” and takes the name “gunyege” or “gunye gä”.

During dry season many villages in the surroundings of Man arrange footraces among the youth, at which the respective winner gains the right to wear the mask.

In earlier times, the masks are said to have been used to prepare young men for battle before a war.

The object Anthropomorphic face mask “gunyege” with the object ID 3048446 was last part of the auction 97th Auction at November 6, 2021 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 179 achieved a sales price of EUR 600.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.