Small bronze mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
06
days
19
hours
52
minutes
32
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
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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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Petit bronze mask, from Côte d'Ivoire, Baoulé culture, late 20th century, in excellent condition and sold with a stand.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
African Bronze
Height: 225mm
Width: 160mm
Depth: 90mm
Weight: 1000g
This small mask in copper alloy (bronze or brass) comes from the Baoulé people, a major Akan-speaking ethnic group located in Ivory Coast.
Just like the statuary and the traditional weights used to weigh gold in this region, this object testifies to a high mastery of the lost-wax casting technique.
1. Stylistic and Aesthetic Characteristics
The work faithfully reproduces, at a reduced scale, the beauty criteria and classical canons usually found on the large Baoulé wooden dance masks:
• The finesse of facial details: The face features harmonious traits with a fine nose, almond-shaped eyes finely outlined, and well-drawn closed lips.
• The ritual scarifications: The forehead, the contour of the eyes, and the cheeks are adorned with rich geometric motifs and incised relief lines. Among the Baoulé, these scarifications are signs of civilization, ethnic belonging, and elegance.
• The hairstyle and adornments: The head is topped with a complex hairstyle consisting of a central knotted bun with bumpy motifs and two finely striped side braids. The bottom of the mask is encircled by a toothed collar (or stylized beard) formed of conical points.
• The back and the mounting system: As seen from the rear, the object is hollow, typical of fine casting. A circular opening is provided at the top of the hairstyle, allowing the object to be hung or fixed. Its dark, nuanced patina reveals prolonged use.
2. Use and Significance: A “House Mask”
Due to its small size, this object is not meant to be worn on a dancer’s face. It is a house mask (or prestige pendant) that serves several key roles:
• Domestic and spiritual protection: Placed inside the dwelling or on a family altar, this small mask acts as a protective amulet for the home. It is charged with watching over the house, capturing good energy and repelling negative influences, illness, or sorcery.
• Replacement and nomadic devotion: These small anthropomorphic bronzes could serve as portable substitutes for the community’s large masks. They allowed a continuous connection with the protective spirit (Amuen) or the ancestors, even when traveling.
• Prestige and power emblem: Owning a bronze object of such fine craftsmanship was an important marker of wealth and high social rank. It could belong to a chief, a notable, or a diviner (komien), affirming authority and a privileged link to the unseen world.
Packages are shipped Monday to Saturday with insurance and a tracking number.
Delivery between 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 International Colissimo.
We speak English
Mask african art African mask art German: Afrikanische Maskenkunst Art of African masks Italian: arte delle maschere africane Spanish/Portuguese: arte de máscaras africanas African statue art Art of African statues German: 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: 225mm
Width: 160mm
Depth: 90mm
Weight: 1000g
This small mask in copper alloy (bronze or brass) comes from the Baoulé people, a major Akan-speaking ethnic group located in Ivory Coast.
Just like the statuary and the traditional weights used to weigh gold in this region, this object testifies to a high mastery of the lost-wax casting technique.
1. Stylistic and Aesthetic Characteristics
The work faithfully reproduces, at a reduced scale, the beauty criteria and classical canons usually found on the large Baoulé wooden dance masks:
• The finesse of facial details: The face features harmonious traits with a fine nose, almond-shaped eyes finely outlined, and well-drawn closed lips.
• The ritual scarifications: The forehead, the contour of the eyes, and the cheeks are adorned with rich geometric motifs and incised relief lines. Among the Baoulé, these scarifications are signs of civilization, ethnic belonging, and elegance.
• The hairstyle and adornments: The head is topped with a complex hairstyle consisting of a central knotted bun with bumpy motifs and two finely striped side braids. The bottom of the mask is encircled by a toothed collar (or stylized beard) formed of conical points.
• The back and the mounting system: As seen from the rear, the object is hollow, typical of fine casting. A circular opening is provided at the top of the hairstyle, allowing the object to be hung or fixed. Its dark, nuanced patina reveals prolonged use.
2. Use and Significance: A “House Mask”
Due to its small size, this object is not meant to be worn on a dancer’s face. It is a house mask (or prestige pendant) that serves several key roles:
• Domestic and spiritual protection: Placed inside the dwelling or on a family altar, this small mask acts as a protective amulet for the home. It is charged with watching over the house, capturing good energy and repelling negative influences, illness, or sorcery.
• Replacement and nomadic devotion: These small anthropomorphic bronzes could serve as portable substitutes for the community’s large masks. They allowed a continuous connection with the protective spirit (Amuen) or the ancestors, even when traveling.
• Prestige and power emblem: Owning a bronze object of such fine craftsmanship was an important marker of wealth and high social rank. It could belong to a chief, a notable, or a diviner (komien), affirming authority and a privileged link to the unseen world.
Packages are shipped Monday to Saturday with insurance and a tracking number.
Delivery between 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 International Colissimo.
We speak English
Mask african art African mask art German: Afrikanische Maskenkunst Art of African masks Italian: arte delle maschere africane Spanish/Portuguese: arte de máscaras africanas African statue art Art of African statues German: 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
Ethnic group/ culture
Baule
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Period
Late 20th century
Material
Bronze
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Excellent condition
Title of artwork
Small bronze mask
Sold by
