Skip navigation
Classification is ?
Object Name contains ?
People (Maker/Artist) contains ?
You may redefine your search by checking this box.
Face mask
Date: Mid-late 20th century
Maker: Dogon peoples
Medium: Wood, pigment, paint
Subjects: antelope, insect, rhinoceros
Dimensions: H x W x D: 54.6 x 19.7 x 23.7 cm (21 1/2 x 7 3/4 x 9 5/16 in.)
Credit Line: Bequest of Eliot Elisofon
Geography: Mali

Not all animals are easy to identify. This may be particularly true of masks without their costumes or dance and music. The gomtogo or gomintogo from the Dogon peoples has been described as a deer, an antelope no longer found in the area, a rhinoceros and a mantis. But, none of the identifications seem to match a myth that recounts the gomtogo eating animal ears left on a rock by a farmer. Such variances may stem from researchers' misunderstandings or regional variations. In any case, Dogon aesthetic principles suggest the mask is non-threatening by virtue of its square face and lack of teeth.

On Exhibit: No
Object Number: 73-7-546