Mblo mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
06
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
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Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Mblo mask, an anthropomorphic wooden mask of the Baoulé people from Côte d'Ivoire, carved in Bois, height 390 mm, width 230 mm, depth 160 mm, in good condition, sold without a stand.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 390 mm
Width: 230 mm
Depth: 160 mm
This wooden anthropomorphic mask comes from the Baoulé people, located in the central region of Ivory Coast. Within their rich culture, this piece falls into the category of portrait or entertainment masks, traditionally called Mblo (or Ndoma).
Baoulé Origin and Aesthetic Characteristics
Baoulé art systematically seeks balance, harmony of proportions, and finesse of details. This mask is a perfect illustration through several criteria:
Expression of serenity: The high, domed forehead dominates delicately arched eyebrows that meet at the base of the nose. The almond-shaped, half-closed eyes give the face an attitude of inner calm, dignity, and spiritual peace.
Complex hairstyle: The hair is sculpted into a tall central crest adorned with small conical protuberances or chevrons, flanked by two rolled braids on the sides. Among the Baoulé, the care given to the coiffure is a clear sign of refinement and high social rank.
Ritual scarifications (Ngole): Relief patterns or light geometric incisions structure the face. A discreet mark can be observed on the forehead, as well as small linear scarifications at the corners of the lips and eyes.
The notched frill collar: A jagged border frames the jaw and chin, stylizing a prestige beard or a festive textile ornament.
The careful patina: The face shows a beautiful dark patina, smooth and polished by use, while the back reveals the hollowing of raw wood with an adze to fit the wearer’s face.
Ritual and social use: Mblo festivities
Unlike the sacred and formidable masks of this region (linked to the cults of Goli or Bonu Auen which are strictly forbidden to women’s gaze), the Mblo mask has a public, theatrical, and festive function.
A dance of entertainment: It appears during celebratory ceremonies (Gbagba or Mblo), organized to celebrate happy events, honor distinguished guests, or pace the funerals of notables.
The idealized portrait of an individual: These masks are generally commissioned to pay homage to a living member of the village (often a woman), admired for her physical beauty, grace, or moral qualities. The mask does not seek to be a realistic portrait, but a magnified representation of the virtues of the person honored.
The performance: The dancer, completely concealed under a costume made of cloths and plant fibers fixed to the perforations along the mask’s edge, adopts a rhythmic choreography. Horizontal slits are discreetly pierced under the mask’s sculpted eyes to allow the performer to guide themselves during the dance movements.
Symbolic meaning
Among the Baoulé, the formal perfection of a sculpture is the direct reflection of the goodness of the soul (Blolo). The perfect symmetry of features, the softness of the lines, and the shine of the patina of this mask recall the community’s fundamental values: respect for customary laws, self-control, elegance, and maintaining social harmony through the beauty of art and shared celebrations.
This mask is representative of Baoulé art, with balance between forms and volumes and finely sculpted details.
Fast and protected shipping. Packages are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union by Chronopost International. Delivery by Colissimo International in 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
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: 390 mm
Width: 230 mm
Depth: 160 mm
This wooden anthropomorphic mask comes from the Baoulé people, located in the central region of Ivory Coast. Within their rich culture, this piece falls into the category of portrait or entertainment masks, traditionally called Mblo (or Ndoma).
Baoulé Origin and Aesthetic Characteristics
Baoulé art systematically seeks balance, harmony of proportions, and finesse of details. This mask is a perfect illustration through several criteria:
Expression of serenity: The high, domed forehead dominates delicately arched eyebrows that meet at the base of the nose. The almond-shaped, half-closed eyes give the face an attitude of inner calm, dignity, and spiritual peace.
Complex hairstyle: The hair is sculpted into a tall central crest adorned with small conical protuberances or chevrons, flanked by two rolled braids on the sides. Among the Baoulé, the care given to the coiffure is a clear sign of refinement and high social rank.
Ritual scarifications (Ngole): Relief patterns or light geometric incisions structure the face. A discreet mark can be observed on the forehead, as well as small linear scarifications at the corners of the lips and eyes.
The notched frill collar: A jagged border frames the jaw and chin, stylizing a prestige beard or a festive textile ornament.
The careful patina: The face shows a beautiful dark patina, smooth and polished by use, while the back reveals the hollowing of raw wood with an adze to fit the wearer’s face.
Ritual and social use: Mblo festivities
Unlike the sacred and formidable masks of this region (linked to the cults of Goli or Bonu Auen which are strictly forbidden to women’s gaze), the Mblo mask has a public, theatrical, and festive function.
A dance of entertainment: It appears during celebratory ceremonies (Gbagba or Mblo), organized to celebrate happy events, honor distinguished guests, or pace the funerals of notables.
The idealized portrait of an individual: These masks are generally commissioned to pay homage to a living member of the village (often a woman), admired for her physical beauty, grace, or moral qualities. The mask does not seek to be a realistic portrait, but a magnified representation of the virtues of the person honored.
The performance: The dancer, completely concealed under a costume made of cloths and plant fibers fixed to the perforations along the mask’s edge, adopts a rhythmic choreography. Horizontal slits are discreetly pierced under the mask’s sculpted eyes to allow the performer to guide themselves during the dance movements.
Symbolic meaning
Among the Baoulé, the formal perfection of a sculpture is the direct reflection of the goodness of the soul (Blolo). The perfect symmetry of features, the softness of the lines, and the shine of the patina of this mask recall the community’s fundamental values: respect for customary laws, self-control, elegance, and maintaining social harmony through the beauty of art and shared celebrations.
This mask is representative of Baoulé art, with balance between forms and volumes and finely sculpted details.
Fast and protected shipping. Packages are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union by Chronopost International. Delivery by Colissimo International in 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
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
