Initiation mask/helmet and protection - Baga - Guinea
05
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11
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Masque/casque d'initiation et protection, a wood mask from the Baga people of Guinea with Guinea-Bissau provenance; dimensions 160 × 180 × 450 mm; condition good.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Guinea / Guinea-Bissau
Baga
Wood
Height: 160mm
Width: 180mm
Length: 450mm
Flake at the left ear, see photos.
Analysis Sheet: Baga Bird Mask
I. Origin & Stylistic Identification
This elongated zoomorphic mask/crest (45 cm in length by 16 cm in height) comes from the coastal region of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. It is highly characteristic of the art of the Baga people (or subgroups close to them such as the Nalu or the Landuma).
Several major morphological criteria confirm this attribution:
• Beak iconography: The long curved beak, slightly open, adorned with small notches or stylized teeth in relief whitened, directly evokes the hornbill — a mythical bird of West Africa — or the pelican, emblematic of the lagoon life of the southern rivers.
• The top crest: A broad flattened crest with notches crowns the skull. Painted with earthy pigments (notably ochre red), it emphasizes the horizontal dynamism of the profile.
• Geometric reliefs: Small conical or triangular outgrowths represent ears or horns on the sides, a common hybridization in this statuary. The eyes are simply represented by circles whitened with kaolin.
• Porting/handling structure: The reverse shows a deep, oval cap, excavated, pierced with many holes around the edge to firmly fix a large fiber (raffia) costume concealing the dancer’s body entirely.
II. Use & Ritual Functions
Among the Baga, bird masks (sometimes associated with the A-Bamp mask type or with sea spirits) play a role in specific ritual contexts, governed by male initiation societies.
1. Initiation Rites of Young Men
These masks appear mainly during ceremonies marking the passage of adolescents to adulthood. The bird, as mediator between earth and sky, symbolizes knowledge, vigilance, and spiritual transition. Its dance teaches initiates moral rules, the clan’s founding myths, and the ancestors’ history.
2. Protection of Crops and Agricultural Celebrations
Linked to the aquatic and forest environment, the bird’s spirit is invoked during agricultural celebrations (such as replanting or the rice harvest). The mask dances in the village to drive away harmful entities, purify the communal space, and attract rain and fertility to the lands.
3. Funerals of Dignitaries
It may also be worn during funeral rites of important members of the secret society, guiding the deceased’s soul to the realm of ancestors and restoring the cosmic balance disrupted by death.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and a tracking number.
Delivery in France in 1–3 days via Chronopost, 2–5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
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
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 TranslateGuinea / Guinea-Bissau
Baga
Wood
Height: 160mm
Width: 180mm
Length: 450mm
Flake at the left ear, see photos.
Analysis Sheet: Baga Bird Mask
I. Origin & Stylistic Identification
This elongated zoomorphic mask/crest (45 cm in length by 16 cm in height) comes from the coastal region of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. It is highly characteristic of the art of the Baga people (or subgroups close to them such as the Nalu or the Landuma).
Several major morphological criteria confirm this attribution:
• Beak iconography: The long curved beak, slightly open, adorned with small notches or stylized teeth in relief whitened, directly evokes the hornbill — a mythical bird of West Africa — or the pelican, emblematic of the lagoon life of the southern rivers.
• The top crest: A broad flattened crest with notches crowns the skull. Painted with earthy pigments (notably ochre red), it emphasizes the horizontal dynamism of the profile.
• Geometric reliefs: Small conical or triangular outgrowths represent ears or horns on the sides, a common hybridization in this statuary. The eyes are simply represented by circles whitened with kaolin.
• Porting/handling structure: The reverse shows a deep, oval cap, excavated, pierced with many holes around the edge to firmly fix a large fiber (raffia) costume concealing the dancer’s body entirely.
II. Use & Ritual Functions
Among the Baga, bird masks (sometimes associated with the A-Bamp mask type or with sea spirits) play a role in specific ritual contexts, governed by male initiation societies.
1. Initiation Rites of Young Men
These masks appear mainly during ceremonies marking the passage of adolescents to adulthood. The bird, as mediator between earth and sky, symbolizes knowledge, vigilance, and spiritual transition. Its dance teaches initiates moral rules, the clan’s founding myths, and the ancestors’ history.
2. Protection of Crops and Agricultural Celebrations
Linked to the aquatic and forest environment, the bird’s spirit is invoked during agricultural celebrations (such as replanting or the rice harvest). The mask dances in the village to drive away harmful entities, purify the communal space, and attract rain and fertility to the lands.
3. Funerals of Dignitaries
It may also be worn during funeral rites of important members of the secret society, guiding the deceased’s soul to the realm of ancestors and restoring the cosmic balance disrupted by death.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and a tracking number.
Delivery in France in 1–3 days via Chronopost, 2–5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
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
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
Initiation mask/helmet and protection
Ethnic group/ culture
Baga
Country of Origin
Guinea
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Fair condition
Sold by
