Mblo mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
07
days
04
hours
43
minutes
47
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 280 - € 330
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Mblo mask, a Baoulé wooden mask from Côte d'Ivoire, 400 mm high, 195 mm wide, 180 mm deep, weighing 1.15 kg, in excellent condition and sold without a stand.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 400 mm
Width: 195 mm
Depth: 180 mm
Weight: 1.15 kg
Delivered without base
This type of carved wooden mask is a characteristic creation of the Baoulé ethnic group in Ivory Coast.
1. Geographical and cultural origin
The Baoulé people: Based in the central region of Ivory Coast, the Baoulé belong to the great Akan linguistic and cultural group. Their art is renowned for its finesse, sense of proportion, and pursuit of perfect visual harmony.
The notion of moral beauty: In Baoulé sculpture, the purity of lines and the care given to details (hairstyle, scarifications) are not only aesthetic. They reflect the concept of klolo, inner beauty, dignity, and the spiritual maturity of an individual.
2. Ritual use and social function
This anthropomorphic face mask is primarily part of the grand dances of rejoicing and sacred entertainment of the community, such as Mblo (or Gbagba).
Entertainment and social cohesion: Unlike other West African masks with purely fearsome or sacred purposes, Mblo masks are designed to bring joy. They appear during village festivities, to honor the arrival of prestigious guests or to honor the memory of a respected elder at his funeral. The dancer, entirely concealed beneath a costume, imitates human behaviors or parodies local figures to amuse and bond the community.
Idealization of traits: Although worn exclusively by men, these masks very often depict female faces. They pay tribute to a famous village woman for her beauty, grace, or social standing, freezing her features in an eternally young and sublimated form.
3. Style features
The piece adheres to very precise artistic canons:
Expression of serenity: The eyes are almond-shaped, half-closed or lowered toward the ground. This posture expresses interiority, respect, calm, and restraint, highly valued qualities among the Baoulé. The nose is fine and straight, extending high arched brows.
Sophisticated coiffure: The top of the head is crowned with a tall sagittal crest sculpted. Its finely engraved geometric motifs imitate the braids and complex traditional hairstyles worn by distinguished women.
Scarifications and patina: Scarred reliefs are visible at the mouth corners, on the cheeks, or the forehead, reproducing the ethnic identity and aesthetic marks. The outer face is coated with a beautiful dark patina, smooth and satin, obtained by successive applications of vegetable oils or natural pigments.
Internal structure: The back of the mask is deeply hollowed to fit the dancer’s face. Two fine horizontal slits are cut at the level of the eyelids to ensure minimal visibility, while small holes around the edge allow the fabric or fiber costume to be securely tied to the mask.
Packages are quickly shipped from Monday to Saturday with a tracking number. Delivery 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days across Europe. Worldwide shipping.
We speak English.
Mask of 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
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
Wood
Height: 400 mm
Width: 195 mm
Depth: 180 mm
Weight: 1.15 kg
Delivered without base
This type of carved wooden mask is a characteristic creation of the Baoulé ethnic group in Ivory Coast.
1. Geographical and cultural origin
The Baoulé people: Based in the central region of Ivory Coast, the Baoulé belong to the great Akan linguistic and cultural group. Their art is renowned for its finesse, sense of proportion, and pursuit of perfect visual harmony.
The notion of moral beauty: In Baoulé sculpture, the purity of lines and the care given to details (hairstyle, scarifications) are not only aesthetic. They reflect the concept of klolo, inner beauty, dignity, and the spiritual maturity of an individual.
2. Ritual use and social function
This anthropomorphic face mask is primarily part of the grand dances of rejoicing and sacred entertainment of the community, such as Mblo (or Gbagba).
Entertainment and social cohesion: Unlike other West African masks with purely fearsome or sacred purposes, Mblo masks are designed to bring joy. They appear during village festivities, to honor the arrival of prestigious guests or to honor the memory of a respected elder at his funeral. The dancer, entirely concealed beneath a costume, imitates human behaviors or parodies local figures to amuse and bond the community.
Idealization of traits: Although worn exclusively by men, these masks very often depict female faces. They pay tribute to a famous village woman for her beauty, grace, or social standing, freezing her features in an eternally young and sublimated form.
3. Style features
The piece adheres to very precise artistic canons:
Expression of serenity: The eyes are almond-shaped, half-closed or lowered toward the ground. This posture expresses interiority, respect, calm, and restraint, highly valued qualities among the Baoulé. The nose is fine and straight, extending high arched brows.
Sophisticated coiffure: The top of the head is crowned with a tall sagittal crest sculpted. Its finely engraved geometric motifs imitate the braids and complex traditional hairstyles worn by distinguished women.
Scarifications and patina: Scarred reliefs are visible at the mouth corners, on the cheeks, or the forehead, reproducing the ethnic identity and aesthetic marks. The outer face is coated with a beautiful dark patina, smooth and satin, obtained by successive applications of vegetable oils or natural pigments.
Internal structure: The back of the mask is deeply hollowed to fit the dancer’s face. Two fine horizontal slits are cut at the level of the eyelids to ensure minimal visibility, while small holes around the edge allow the fabric or fiber costume to be securely tied to the mask.
Packages are quickly shipped from Monday to Saturday with a tracking number. Delivery 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days across Europe. Worldwide shipping.
We speak English.
Mask of 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
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
Mblo mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Baule
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Excellent condition
Sold by
