1993.1 Helmet mask (gye)

Yu masks, which are supposed to have been invented in antiquity and are owned by the oldest families in northern Guro communities, are highly revered and the recipients of sacrificial offerings. The most powerful yu mask is gye, considered the highest judicial authority. Such masks can judge disputes, negotiate peace treaties, and make momentous decisions on behalf of the community. They appear at funeral celebrations of honored family members and at other community celebrations. 

Gye are thought to be creatures that in ancient times belonged to the beasts of the forest and mountains. According to legend, a Guro hunter brought the creatures into the village to receive offerings—perhaps to ensure a successful hunt and appease the spirits of the animals that were killed. Eventually these apparently friendly beings were immortalized in sculpted wooden masks and costumes, dance steps, and musical accompaniment. 

The powerful horns and muzzle of a buffalo are combined with human facial features in this helmet mask. During performances, the mask is decorated with fresh green leaves attached to the rim and is worn with a costume of knotted fiber that the dancers used to extinguish the burning coals on which they dance.

This mask was repaired with sheet metal at some time during its decades of use.

n.d.: Leod van Bussel, Amsterdam

n.d.: James Willis Gallery, San Francisco

1993: Dallas Museum of Art, purchased from above

The main source for this provenance is the document information sheet compiled Spring 2007 in the Collections Records object file (1993.1).

Apply to objects where number equals 1993.1