African bronze head - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 220 - € 250
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Baoulé bronze head from Côte d'Ivoire, dating to the late 20th century, titled Tête en bronze africain.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
African Bronze
Height: 170 mm
Width: 110 mm
Depth: 100 mm
Weight: 810 g
This piece in copper alloy cast using lost-wax process stands 170 mm tall with a dense weight of 810 g.
Although it adopts the morphological canons of the Ivory Coast, its three-dimensional configuration — a closed-back helmeted head rather than a flat mask — makes it an exceptional object in Baoulé culture (part of the large Akan group), strongly influenced here by prestige goldsmithing and contacts with lagoon cultures.
1. Analysis of stylistic codes and attributes
A careful examination of the front reveals highly symbolic iconographic details:
Relief scarifications: The face bears characteristic scarifications in the shape of a cross or grid patterns on the cheeks and forehead, along with a line of chéloïdes along the hairline. Among the Baoulé, these marks symbolize self-control, cultural integration, and civilized beauty.
Treatment of the eyes and gaze: Globular almond-shaped eyes are drawn out toward the temples, topped with large arched brows that meet to form a long, fine nasal ridge. This design gives the head an expression of serene authority and inner spiritual life.
Adornments and stylized beard: Ornaments in the form of small loops or metallic twists outline the perimeter of the jaw and the corners of the mouth. Under the chin, a braided beard or richly lined flat appendage symbolizes wisdom, middle age, and the status of notable person or clan leader.
Elements of summit grip: The crown top and back of the head are flanked by small twisted spurs or pins, serving as attachments or decorative elements linked to the dignitaries’ complex headdresses.
2. Real use: A power object and clan treasure
With a weight of almost a kilogram for only 19 cm, this object was absolutely not meant to be danced with or worn on the face during performance. Its use is purely static and sacred:
The Royal/Familial Treasure (Aja): In Akan/Baoulé tradition, items made of precious metal or heavy copper alloy form the heart of the clan’s treasure. Passed down through generations, this treasure embodies wealth, political power, and the legitimacy of a leader or lineage.
The altar display: During the funerals of great dignitaries, investiture ceremonies, or village alliances, this prestige head was taken from its sacred hiding places. It was solemnly placed on a wooden royal throne (dress chair) or on an altar to testify to the wealth and the spiritual protection of the ancestors.
Offerings and libations: The textured, greenish-brown patina is the direct result of natural copper oxidation, but also of successive applications of ritual substances (oils, sacrificial blood, powders) during community prayers.
3. Meaning: The embodiment of the eternal Ancestor
Permanence of power: Unlike wooden masks and statues which rot, crack, or are eaten by termites, bronze is imperishable. Choosing the metal to represent a human head is a deliberate decision to fix political and spiritual authority in eternity.
The vessel of the soul: In Baoulé thought, the head is the seat of intelligence, will, and spiritual energy (Kra). This sculpture is not the portrait of a specific individual, but an idealized allegory of a glorious founding ancestor watching over the community.
Rear photos show the wide opening under the base of the neck, clearly indicating that the piece was designed to be affixed to a spear staff, placed atop an altar sleeve, or displayed stably on a rigid stand.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak English
African mask art Maskenkunst des Afrikanischen Masken Afrikanska masker arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateIvory Coast
Baoulé
African Bronze
Height: 170 mm
Width: 110 mm
Depth: 100 mm
Weight: 810 g
This piece in copper alloy cast using lost-wax process stands 170 mm tall with a dense weight of 810 g.
Although it adopts the morphological canons of the Ivory Coast, its three-dimensional configuration — a closed-back helmeted head rather than a flat mask — makes it an exceptional object in Baoulé culture (part of the large Akan group), strongly influenced here by prestige goldsmithing and contacts with lagoon cultures.
1. Analysis of stylistic codes and attributes
A careful examination of the front reveals highly symbolic iconographic details:
Relief scarifications: The face bears characteristic scarifications in the shape of a cross or grid patterns on the cheeks and forehead, along with a line of chéloïdes along the hairline. Among the Baoulé, these marks symbolize self-control, cultural integration, and civilized beauty.
Treatment of the eyes and gaze: Globular almond-shaped eyes are drawn out toward the temples, topped with large arched brows that meet to form a long, fine nasal ridge. This design gives the head an expression of serene authority and inner spiritual life.
Adornments and stylized beard: Ornaments in the form of small loops or metallic twists outline the perimeter of the jaw and the corners of the mouth. Under the chin, a braided beard or richly lined flat appendage symbolizes wisdom, middle age, and the status of notable person or clan leader.
Elements of summit grip: The crown top and back of the head are flanked by small twisted spurs or pins, serving as attachments or decorative elements linked to the dignitaries’ complex headdresses.
2. Real use: A power object and clan treasure
With a weight of almost a kilogram for only 19 cm, this object was absolutely not meant to be danced with or worn on the face during performance. Its use is purely static and sacred:
The Royal/Familial Treasure (Aja): In Akan/Baoulé tradition, items made of precious metal or heavy copper alloy form the heart of the clan’s treasure. Passed down through generations, this treasure embodies wealth, political power, and the legitimacy of a leader or lineage.
The altar display: During the funerals of great dignitaries, investiture ceremonies, or village alliances, this prestige head was taken from its sacred hiding places. It was solemnly placed on a wooden royal throne (dress chair) or on an altar to testify to the wealth and the spiritual protection of the ancestors.
Offerings and libations: The textured, greenish-brown patina is the direct result of natural copper oxidation, but also of successive applications of ritual substances (oils, sacrificial blood, powders) during community prayers.
3. Meaning: The embodiment of the eternal Ancestor
Permanence of power: Unlike wooden masks and statues which rot, crack, or are eaten by termites, bronze is imperishable. Choosing the metal to represent a human head is a deliberate decision to fix political and spiritual authority in eternity.
The vessel of the soul: In Baoulé thought, the head is the seat of intelligence, will, and spiritual energy (Kra). This sculpture is not the portrait of a specific individual, but an idealized allegory of a glorious founding ancestor watching over the community.
Rear photos show the wide opening under the base of the neck, clearly indicating that the piece was designed to be affixed to a spear staff, placed atop an altar sleeve, or displayed stably on a rigid stand.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak English
African mask art Maskenkunst des Afrikanischen Masken Afrikanska masker arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
African bronze head
Ethnic group/ culture
Baule
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Period
Late 20th century
Material
African bronze
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
