Mblo mask - 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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Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 535mm
Width: 180mm
Depth: 140mm
African wooden mask of the Baoulé people from Ivory Coast.
This anthropomorphic wooden mask is a remarkable example of the art from the center of Ivory Coast.
It is a mask of Baoulé origin, one of the country’s most important ethnic groups, renowned for the refinement, delicacy, and balance of its statuary. More precisely, this piece surmounted by a full figure belongs to the category of portrait or entertainment masks, called Mblo (or Ndoma).
1. Baoulé origin and aesthetic characteristics
Visual analysis of the mask immediately reveals the idealized beauty canon specific to Baoulé sculpture:
A face of great serenity: The forehead is high, rounded, and clear. Almond-shaped, half-closed eyes oriented downward give the mask an expression of interiority, restraint, and respectful dignity. The nose is long, fine, and straight, while the mouth, small and slightly open, hints at carefully sculpted lips.
Ritual scarifications: The face is adorned with small geometric reliefs symbolizing traditional scarifications (ngole). A series can be seen aligned across the top of the forehead, as well as small marks at the corners of the eyes and on the temples, signs of cultural refinement and social belonging.
Hair and collar: The hair is styled in a rounded bun finely lined with parallel lines. All around the jawline, a crenellated or jagged border (best visibility on the chin) stylizes a prestige beard or a decorative collar that shapes the face’s oval.
The summit statuette: The top of the mask is crowned by a complete anthropomorphic female figure, carved standing, hands on hips. Her crest hairstyle echoes that of the main mask. This superposition of figures adds an exceptional level of prestige to the object.
Dark patina: The surface bears a black, smooth, and glossy patina, traditionally obtained by a treatment using plant dyes and repeated rubbing, contrasting with the rough and hollow back of the wood.
2. Ritual and social use: Mblo joy dances
Unlike the sacred and formidable masks of the Baoulé (such as the Goli or the Bonu Auen which are forbidden to women), the Mblo mask has a primarily secular and festive use:
Paying homage to a community member: Mblo or Ndoma masks are designed to celebrate or honor a real village person, reputed for physical beauty, dancing talent, or great moral qualities (generosity, wisdom). The sculpted figure at the summit may refer to an identity trait of this person or to their lineage.
Dance sequence: During entertainment festivities, funerals of notable figures, or public commemorations, a skilled dancer wears the mask, fully dressed in fabrics and fibers to conceal the body. The back of the mask shows the small side holes on the inner border, which were used to thread ties to firmly attach the object to the wearer’s face.
Public appearance: The dancer performs a rhythmic and theatrical choreography, often accompanied by the woman or personality the mask is meant to honor. It is a moment of parody, social cohesion, and collective aesthetic celebration.
3. Significance: A celebration of beauty and social order
In Baoulé country, art serves to make the world more beautiful and harmonious to soothe spirits. This mask is not a realistic (photographic) portrait of the honored person, but an idealized representation of their soul and status.
The perfection of the lines, the perfect symmetry of features, and the careful patina celebrate self-control, intelligence, and spiritual maturity. By displaying such a mask to the public, the Baoulé community reaffirms its highest moral values: respect for the elders,
Fast and protected shipping. Packages are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days throughout the European Union via Chronopost International. Delivery via Colissimo International to the rest of Europe and worldwide
We speak english.
mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
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
Wood
Height: 535mm
Width: 180mm
Depth: 140mm
African wooden mask of the Baoulé people from Ivory Coast.
This anthropomorphic wooden mask is a remarkable example of the art from the center of Ivory Coast.
It is a mask of Baoulé origin, one of the country’s most important ethnic groups, renowned for the refinement, delicacy, and balance of its statuary. More precisely, this piece surmounted by a full figure belongs to the category of portrait or entertainment masks, called Mblo (or Ndoma).
1. Baoulé origin and aesthetic characteristics
Visual analysis of the mask immediately reveals the idealized beauty canon specific to Baoulé sculpture:
A face of great serenity: The forehead is high, rounded, and clear. Almond-shaped, half-closed eyes oriented downward give the mask an expression of interiority, restraint, and respectful dignity. The nose is long, fine, and straight, while the mouth, small and slightly open, hints at carefully sculpted lips.
Ritual scarifications: The face is adorned with small geometric reliefs symbolizing traditional scarifications (ngole). A series can be seen aligned across the top of the forehead, as well as small marks at the corners of the eyes and on the temples, signs of cultural refinement and social belonging.
Hair and collar: The hair is styled in a rounded bun finely lined with parallel lines. All around the jawline, a crenellated or jagged border (best visibility on the chin) stylizes a prestige beard or a decorative collar that shapes the face’s oval.
The summit statuette: The top of the mask is crowned by a complete anthropomorphic female figure, carved standing, hands on hips. Her crest hairstyle echoes that of the main mask. This superposition of figures adds an exceptional level of prestige to the object.
Dark patina: The surface bears a black, smooth, and glossy patina, traditionally obtained by a treatment using plant dyes and repeated rubbing, contrasting with the rough and hollow back of the wood.
2. Ritual and social use: Mblo joy dances
Unlike the sacred and formidable masks of the Baoulé (such as the Goli or the Bonu Auen which are forbidden to women), the Mblo mask has a primarily secular and festive use:
Paying homage to a community member: Mblo or Ndoma masks are designed to celebrate or honor a real village person, reputed for physical beauty, dancing talent, or great moral qualities (generosity, wisdom). The sculpted figure at the summit may refer to an identity trait of this person or to their lineage.
Dance sequence: During entertainment festivities, funerals of notable figures, or public commemorations, a skilled dancer wears the mask, fully dressed in fabrics and fibers to conceal the body. The back of the mask shows the small side holes on the inner border, which were used to thread ties to firmly attach the object to the wearer’s face.
Public appearance: The dancer performs a rhythmic and theatrical choreography, often accompanied by the woman or personality the mask is meant to honor. It is a moment of parody, social cohesion, and collective aesthetic celebration.
3. Significance: A celebration of beauty and social order
In Baoulé country, art serves to make the world more beautiful and harmonious to soothe spirits. This mask is not a realistic (photographic) portrait of the honored person, but an idealized representation of their soul and status.
The perfection of the lines, the perfect symmetry of features, and the careful patina celebrate self-control, intelligence, and spiritual maturity. By displaying such a mask to the public, the Baoulé community reaffirms its highest moral values: respect for the elders,
Fast and protected shipping. Packages are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days throughout the European Union via Chronopost International. Delivery via Colissimo International to the rest of Europe and worldwide
We speak english.
mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
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
Mblo mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Baule
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
