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 € 150 - € 200
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Baoulé Mblo mask carved from wood from Côte d'Ivoire, in good condition, with dimensions 430 × 175 × 165 mm.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 430mm
Width: 175mm
Depth: 165mm
Thank you for this correction! By looking again closely at the aesthetic composition, notably the balance of its hairstyle and the overall shape of its collar, this piece indeed meets the formal criteria of Baoulé art in Ivory Coast.
It is a portrait or entertainment mask, traditionally called Mblo (or Ndoma).
Here is the description and use of this mask according to Baoulé cultural codes:
1. Aesthetic characteristics and Baoulé beauty standards
The Baoulé art expresses an ideal of peace, harmony and social refinement through meticulously carved details, visible on file C672-1.jpg:
The expression of calm interiority: The high, rounded, prominent forehead dominates arched brows meeting a long, fine nose. Almond-shaped, half-closed eyes, almost lowered, convey wisdom, self-control and respect for conventions.
The sophisticated three-lobed hairstyle: The hair is carved with extreme care, divided into three bulbs lined with regular parallel grooves, topped by a small central bun. Among the Baoulé, the hairstyle’s complexity demonstrates a high social rank and a civilized spirit, opposed to the bush’s savagery.
The prestige scarifications (Ngole): Relievo geometric patterns adorn the top of the forehead and the corners of the mouth. These identity and aesthetic marks enhance the beauty of the face.
The stylized collar and beard: A delicately serrated border accents the jawline, representing a textile ornament or a false beard, a classic attribute of authority and dignity.
The dark patina: The outer face is covered with a beautiful black patina, smooth and lustrous. At the back, the wood is roughly hollowed with an adze and has horizontal slits allowing the dancer to see.
2. Social and ritual use: The Mblo festivities
Unlike sacred and formidable masks linked to male cults (such as the Goli), the Mblo mask has a public, festive, and theatrical function.
A dancing entertainment: It appears at celebratory feasts (Gbagba or Mblo), organized to celebrate happy events, to close funerals of notable people, or to honor distinguished guests.
The idealized portrait of an individual: These masks are generally commissioned to pay homage to a living village personality (most often a woman), admired for her physical beauty or great moral qualities (generosity, gentleness). The sculptor does not seek realism, but creates a magnified representation of the virtues of the celebrated person.
The performance: The dancer, completely hidden beneath a costume of fabric and plant fibers fixed to the perforations of the wood’s border, performs a rhythmic choreography to the drums, often accompanied by the person to whom the mask pays homage.
3. Symbolic meaning
In Baoulé country, the plastic perfection of a work is the direct mirror of a good soul (Blolo). The impeccable symmetry of features, the softness of the lines, and the shine of its surface recall the community’s core values: social harmony, elegance of the spirit, and the maintenance of peace through the celebration of beauty and art.
Fast and protected shipping. Packages are sent with tracking number. Delivery in France in 1 to 3 days by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union by Chronopost International. Delivery by 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 estatues 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: 430mm
Width: 175mm
Depth: 165mm
Thank you for this correction! By looking again closely at the aesthetic composition, notably the balance of its hairstyle and the overall shape of its collar, this piece indeed meets the formal criteria of Baoulé art in Ivory Coast.
It is a portrait or entertainment mask, traditionally called Mblo (or Ndoma).
Here is the description and use of this mask according to Baoulé cultural codes:
1. Aesthetic characteristics and Baoulé beauty standards
The Baoulé art expresses an ideal of peace, harmony and social refinement through meticulously carved details, visible on file C672-1.jpg:
The expression of calm interiority: The high, rounded, prominent forehead dominates arched brows meeting a long, fine nose. Almond-shaped, half-closed eyes, almost lowered, convey wisdom, self-control and respect for conventions.
The sophisticated three-lobed hairstyle: The hair is carved with extreme care, divided into three bulbs lined with regular parallel grooves, topped by a small central bun. Among the Baoulé, the hairstyle’s complexity demonstrates a high social rank and a civilized spirit, opposed to the bush’s savagery.
The prestige scarifications (Ngole): Relievo geometric patterns adorn the top of the forehead and the corners of the mouth. These identity and aesthetic marks enhance the beauty of the face.
The stylized collar and beard: A delicately serrated border accents the jawline, representing a textile ornament or a false beard, a classic attribute of authority and dignity.
The dark patina: The outer face is covered with a beautiful black patina, smooth and lustrous. At the back, the wood is roughly hollowed with an adze and has horizontal slits allowing the dancer to see.
2. Social and ritual use: The Mblo festivities
Unlike sacred and formidable masks linked to male cults (such as the Goli), the Mblo mask has a public, festive, and theatrical function.
A dancing entertainment: It appears at celebratory feasts (Gbagba or Mblo), organized to celebrate happy events, to close funerals of notable people, or to honor distinguished guests.
The idealized portrait of an individual: These masks are generally commissioned to pay homage to a living village personality (most often a woman), admired for her physical beauty or great moral qualities (generosity, gentleness). The sculptor does not seek realism, but creates a magnified representation of the virtues of the celebrated person.
The performance: The dancer, completely hidden beneath a costume of fabric and plant fibers fixed to the perforations of the wood’s border, performs a rhythmic choreography to the drums, often accompanied by the person to whom the mask pays homage.
3. Symbolic meaning
In Baoulé country, the plastic perfection of a work is the direct mirror of a good soul (Blolo). The impeccable symmetry of features, the softness of the lines, and the shine of its surface recall the community’s core values: social harmony, elegance of the spirit, and the maintenance of peace through the celebration of beauty and art.
Fast and protected shipping. Packages are sent with tracking number. Delivery in France in 1 to 3 days by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union by Chronopost International. Delivery by 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 estatues 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
Good condition
Sold by
