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A royal Baule mask, Daoukro region, Cote d’Ivoire. Signs if ritual use and age. Incl stand.

"The Baule are originally part of a breakaway group of the Akan people from Ghana. In the 17th century, Queen Abla Pokou led a group on an exodus away from the main Ashanti Confederacy after a war broke out due to disagreements among the factions. Pokou realized that she and her followers may be in harms way, so she took her people and headed westward. Legend says the group came upon the Comoé River, with its dangerous waters and needed a way to safely cross. With the enemy gaining on them, Queen Pokou asked a diviner for advice. The diviner, after much thought, told her the gods required a sacrifice. Everyone began throwing their most prized possessions into the river; gold, ivory, cattle, everything they owned, hoping to appease the gods. The diviner shook his head and said that our sons are our most prized possessions. Pokou, knowing that her duty as queen was more important than that of a mother, decided then to sacrifice her only son, throwing him into the water and calling out “Ba ouli”, translated to “the child is dead”, giving them the name Baule. After the sacrifice was made, hippopotamuses came up from the river and formed a bridge allowing the queen and her people to cross."

"Differing from most cultures, the Baule are a matriarchal society. Not only are genetic lineages traced by the mother’s blood line, but they refrain from participating in secret societies and initiations that usually forbid women. They believe women’s rights are sacred and are for the most part, given the same opportunities as men. They do however, have some objects such as special men’s masks or anthropomorphic monkeys that women are forbidden to see due to fear of harm or death."

Lit.: Alain-Michel Boye/Patrick Girard/Marceau Rivière: Arts Premiers de Côte d´Ívoire, Sepia 1997, p. 83-84. Susan M. Vogel: Baule: African Art Western Eye, 1997, p. 169 (169-187); Bernard de Grunne: Über den Baule-Stil und seine Meister. In: Eberhard Fischer/Lorenz Homberger: Afrikanische Meister. Kunst der Elfenbeinküste, Zurüch 2014, p. 81-106; Alain-Michel Boyer: Baule. Visions of Africa, Milan 2008.


Wood - Fair condition

A wooden mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire  (No reserve price)

African & Tribal Art

Reserve price

No reserve price

Closing date

tomorrow

Friday

Wednesday

1 November

Thursday

Tuesday

Monday

31 October

Budget

From

Location

Belgium

France

Germany

Austria

Spain

The Netherlands

Italy

Luxembourg

Portugal

Slovak Republic

United States

Switzerland

United Kingdom

Poland

Hong Kong

Ireland

Size

S (10–40 cm)

M (40–80 cm)

L (over 80 cm)

XS (under 10 cm)

Dimensions

Height

Width

Depth

Object

Tribal art and objects

Tribal sculptures statues carvings and figurines

Tribal masks

Figure

Textile

Sculpture

Dance mask

Fetish figure

Mask

Painting

Statue

Tribal weaponry and shields

Book

Cross

Vase

Decorative ornament

Ancestor figure

Stool

Necklace

Headrest

Spoon

Puzzle

Headdress

Traditional drum

Country of origin

DR Congo

Congo

Mali

Côte d'Ivoire

Nigeria

Gabon

Côte d’Ivoire

Ghana

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Togo

Benin

Tanzania

Angola

Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Mozambique

Chad

South Africa

Kenya

Niger

Senegal

Material

Wood

Bronze

Terracotta

Copper

Leather

Metal

Iron (wrought)

Steel

Iron

Glass

Bone

Shell

Brass

Aluminium

Textiles

8kt gold

Gold

Horn

Stone

Earthenware

Iron (cast/wrought)

Patinated bronze

Animal hair

Gilt brass

Gender

Unisex

Condition

Good condition

Fair condition

Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

Excellent condition

Good

Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear

Fair condition -  heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing

Good condition - used with small signs of ageing

Very good

Needs restoration

Very good condition - slightly used with small signs of wear

As new

Good condition, used with some signs of wear

Very used condition, used with visible signs of wear

As new - unused

Excellent condition - barely used with minimal signs of wear

Good condition - used with some signs of wear

Very good condition, slightly used with small signs of wear

Period

Mid 20th century

1930-1940

Late 20th century

Early 20th century

1940-1950

1920-1930

1950-1960

1990-2000

Late 19th century

1960-1970

1980-1990

1970-1980

1850-1900

2020+

2000-2010

1900-1910

1910-1920

1800-1850

1400-1450

1500-1550

Mid 19th century

Early 19th century

2010-2020

Mid 18th century

Certification

No laboratory report

Subject

History

Portrait

Day scene

Pop Culture

Animals

Religion

Style

Folk Art

Vintage

Antique

Contemporary

Realism

Antique inspired

Classical

Neolithic

Expressionism

Postmodernism

Abstract

African & Tribal Art

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A wooden mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire (No reserve price)

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