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 wooden Mblo mask from Côte d’Ivoire, carved in bois, dimensions 380 × 185 × 125 mm, in good condition.
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Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 380 mm
Width: 185 mm
Depth: 125 mm
African wooden mask from the Baoulé people of Ivory Coast.
This anthropomorphic wooden mask is a ritual masterpiece from the Baoulé people, settled in central Ivory Coast.
It is more precisely a ceremonial, display mask called Mblo (or Ndomba), used to embody the spiritual double of a renowned woman in the community for her beauty, her dance, or her social status.
1. Formal characteristics and sculptural details
Baoulé art in Mblo masks achieves a perfect balance between physical idealism and technical mastery, visible through several details:
The face and scarifications: The mask presents an oval face with fine, serene features. Almond-shaped eyes are half-closed, almost introspective, topped by perfectly arched brow ridges that converge at the base of a long, straight nose. The small mouth is delicately carved in relief, slightly open. The forehead and temples bear small geometric scarifications in relief, identity and aesthetic marks fundamental to Baoulé culture.
The monumental trilobed hairstyle: The crown of the head supports a refinement of a hairstyle divided into three rounded lobes (a central crest flanked by two broad lateral shells). The entire head of hair is meticulously engraved with fine, regular parallel lines. Small twisted or braided protrusions also point downward along the sides of the forehead, emphasizing the elegance of the adornment.
The patina and the reverse: The single-wood (monoxyle) piece has a dark, smooth, and glossy patina on the exterior face, achieved by friction, polishing, and application of vegetable oils. On the back, the marks of the adze are visible in the hollow of the mask. You can also discern side openings pierced in the wooden border, which were used to fix the fabric or raffia costume concealing the dancer’s body.
2. Functional and ritual use: Mblo festivities
In Baoulé tradition, Mblo masks belong to the most accessible and most profane category of the performing arts, as opposed to sacred and feared bush masks (such as Goli or Bonu Amuin).
A tribute to a living figure: The Mblo mask is almost always commissioned to stylize the portrait of a real woman from the community, valued for her moral or physical qualities. Although worn exclusively by men, the mask pays homage to this woman, who usually attends the performance as guest of honor.
The entertainment dances (Gbagba): These masks appear on the occasion of major village celebrations, visits by dignitaries, or funerals of respected individuals. Accompanied by a drum and horn ensemble, the dancer performs complex choreographies, miming scenes of daily life or parodying human traits.
Strengthening social bonds: By combining satire, humor, music, and the celebration of beauty, Mblo mask performances act as an outlet. They help defuse tensions within the village, reaffirm moral norms, and reinforce community cohesion.
3. Symbolic meaning of aesthetics
For the Baoulé, physical beauty is the direct reflection of inner beauty and moral integrity. Half-closed eyes express restraint, dignity, and self-respect; a high, open forehead symbolizes intelligence and spiritual maturity; finally, the complex hairstyle testifies to cultural refinement and order in the face of the wild state of the bush. This mask does not aim to be a realistic copy of its model, but rather an embodiment of the social and aesthetic perfection of the ideal African woman..
Fast and secure shipping. Parcels are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France 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 of African art African mask art 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: 380 mm
Width: 185 mm
Depth: 125 mm
African wooden mask from the Baoulé people of Ivory Coast.
This anthropomorphic wooden mask is a ritual masterpiece from the Baoulé people, settled in central Ivory Coast.
It is more precisely a ceremonial, display mask called Mblo (or Ndomba), used to embody the spiritual double of a renowned woman in the community for her beauty, her dance, or her social status.
1. Formal characteristics and sculptural details
Baoulé art in Mblo masks achieves a perfect balance between physical idealism and technical mastery, visible through several details:
The face and scarifications: The mask presents an oval face with fine, serene features. Almond-shaped eyes are half-closed, almost introspective, topped by perfectly arched brow ridges that converge at the base of a long, straight nose. The small mouth is delicately carved in relief, slightly open. The forehead and temples bear small geometric scarifications in relief, identity and aesthetic marks fundamental to Baoulé culture.
The monumental trilobed hairstyle: The crown of the head supports a refinement of a hairstyle divided into three rounded lobes (a central crest flanked by two broad lateral shells). The entire head of hair is meticulously engraved with fine, regular parallel lines. Small twisted or braided protrusions also point downward along the sides of the forehead, emphasizing the elegance of the adornment.
The patina and the reverse: The single-wood (monoxyle) piece has a dark, smooth, and glossy patina on the exterior face, achieved by friction, polishing, and application of vegetable oils. On the back, the marks of the adze are visible in the hollow of the mask. You can also discern side openings pierced in the wooden border, which were used to fix the fabric or raffia costume concealing the dancer’s body.
2. Functional and ritual use: Mblo festivities
In Baoulé tradition, Mblo masks belong to the most accessible and most profane category of the performing arts, as opposed to sacred and feared bush masks (such as Goli or Bonu Amuin).
A tribute to a living figure: The Mblo mask is almost always commissioned to stylize the portrait of a real woman from the community, valued for her moral or physical qualities. Although worn exclusively by men, the mask pays homage to this woman, who usually attends the performance as guest of honor.
The entertainment dances (Gbagba): These masks appear on the occasion of major village celebrations, visits by dignitaries, or funerals of respected individuals. Accompanied by a drum and horn ensemble, the dancer performs complex choreographies, miming scenes of daily life or parodying human traits.
Strengthening social bonds: By combining satire, humor, music, and the celebration of beauty, Mblo mask performances act as an outlet. They help defuse tensions within the village, reaffirm moral norms, and reinforce community cohesion.
3. Symbolic meaning of aesthetics
For the Baoulé, physical beauty is the direct reflection of inner beauty and moral integrity. Half-closed eyes express restraint, dignity, and self-respect; a high, open forehead symbolizes intelligence and spiritual maturity; finally, the complex hairstyle testifies to cultural refinement and order in the face of the wild state of the bush. This mask does not aim to be a realistic copy of its model, but rather an embodiment of the social and aesthetic perfection of the ideal African woman..
Fast and secure shipping. Parcels are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France 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 of African art African mask art 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
