A fantastic Dan 'Racing Mask', Liberia / Ivory Coast, with smooth, sensitive features and circular eyes surrounded by rings of white metal. This is simply a superb example of a bugle mask of the northern Dan, 'gunyege', which were worn by the fastest runners of the village, the ‘ge’ power is supposed to give the wearer the ability to win the race. If the wearer fails to win the race then the mask goes to the one who was fastest, making these a kind of 'trophy' mask. This wonderful example came from the house of Phil Orlando, who acquired it in the late 1950’s. L: 9 in (23 cm). We cannot say enough about the beauty of this piece, with an unbelievable deep glossy patina showing many years of use as a significant cultural object! Ex R. Gino & Phil Orlando Collection (from their residence, not their gallery); Ex Venerable West S.F. Valley Collection.

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