Hunter's mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
00
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08
hours
20
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52
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Current bid
€ 50
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
 | €50 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €45 | |
 | €40 |
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Original Baoulé hunting mask carved in wood from Côte d'Ivoire, measuring 480 mm high, 175 mm wide and 115 mm deep, presented without a stand.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 480mm
Width: 175mm
Depth: 115mm
Delivered without a base
Ritual mask of rejoicing and community dance of the Baoulé people from central Ivory Coast.
This Baoulé mask is most likely a rejoicing mask of the Goli type or related, coming from the Baoulé people of Ivory Coast. Its long curved horns and stylized face are typical features of masks associated with major community ceremonies.
How was it used?
1. Worn during ritual dances
The mask was worn by a dancer during public ceremonies:
- community celebrations
- important funerals
- rejoicing ceremonies to ensure good hunts
- events related to fertility, peace, or prosperity
The dancer wore the mask on the face or sometimes on the head, accompanied by a full-body costume.
2. Appearance in Goli ceremonies
Among the Baoulé, the Goli is a grand ceremony consisting of several types of masks that appear in a precise sequence. This horned mask type typically appears in the most spectacular phases of the dance.
The horns evoke:
- strength
- masculine power
- authority
- the connection with the forces of nature and animals
3. Spiritual and social function
The mask was not merely decorative. It served to:
- honor the ancestors
- strengthen village unity
- protect the community
- manifest the presence of spirits during the ceremony
During the dance, the mask bearer was often considered temporarily inhabited or inspired by a spiritual force.
4. Music and staging
The mask’s use was accompanied by:
- drums
- chants
- codified dances
- acrobatic or majestic movements
The performance had a dimension that was religious, political, and festive at the same time.
5. Symbolism of style
On this mask, several elements are meaningful:
Long curved horns: power, prestige, vital energy.
Half-closed eyes: calm, wisdom, spiritual mastery.
Scarifications and geometric motifs: Baoulé cultural identity and ideal Baoulé beauty.
Elongated, symmetrical face: an idealized representation of the human being, according to Baoulé aesthetics.
This mask was above all:
- a ritual object
- a ceremonial performance tool
- a means of communication with the spiritual world
It was not an autonomous magical object, but an element integrated into a set of rites, dances, and beliefs.
Conclusion
This type of Baoulé mask was used in large danced ceremonies, probably linked to the Goli cycle. Worn by a costumed dancer, it embodied a spiritual and social force meant to celebrate, protect, and unite the community.
This mask features very long, sinuous horns;
a combination of human and animal elements;
a structure designed to produce a strong visual impact during the dance;
prominent cylindrical ears characteristic of Baoulé performance masks.
These features further orient it toward the Goli mask family, more precisely toward a type derived from Kplekple or Goli glin, depending on classifications used by museums and ethnologists.
Why Goli instead?
The Goli cycle includes several masks appearing successively during ceremonies:
6. The Kplekple are generally circular and represent supernatural forces.
The Goli proper develop often animal attributes, notably antelope or buffalo horns.
The final masks of the cycle are often the most elegant and most anthropomorphic.
Your specimen combines a refined Baoulé-style face with tall horns, which aligns well with the aesthetics of Goli masks.
One point of note: the holes visible on the sides seem to have been used to fix a headdress, fibers, or a costume, which is consistent with a mask intended to be worn.
This mask is representative of Baoulé art, with balance between forms and volumes and finely carved details.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and a tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide with Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask African art Afrikaans 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: 480mm
Width: 175mm
Depth: 115mm
Delivered without a base
Ritual mask of rejoicing and community dance of the Baoulé people from central Ivory Coast.
This Baoulé mask is most likely a rejoicing mask of the Goli type or related, coming from the Baoulé people of Ivory Coast. Its long curved horns and stylized face are typical features of masks associated with major community ceremonies.
How was it used?
1. Worn during ritual dances
The mask was worn by a dancer during public ceremonies:
- community celebrations
- important funerals
- rejoicing ceremonies to ensure good hunts
- events related to fertility, peace, or prosperity
The dancer wore the mask on the face or sometimes on the head, accompanied by a full-body costume.
2. Appearance in Goli ceremonies
Among the Baoulé, the Goli is a grand ceremony consisting of several types of masks that appear in a precise sequence. This horned mask type typically appears in the most spectacular phases of the dance.
The horns evoke:
- strength
- masculine power
- authority
- the connection with the forces of nature and animals
3. Spiritual and social function
The mask was not merely decorative. It served to:
- honor the ancestors
- strengthen village unity
- protect the community
- manifest the presence of spirits during the ceremony
During the dance, the mask bearer was often considered temporarily inhabited or inspired by a spiritual force.
4. Music and staging
The mask’s use was accompanied by:
- drums
- chants
- codified dances
- acrobatic or majestic movements
The performance had a dimension that was religious, political, and festive at the same time.
5. Symbolism of style
On this mask, several elements are meaningful:
Long curved horns: power, prestige, vital energy.
Half-closed eyes: calm, wisdom, spiritual mastery.
Scarifications and geometric motifs: Baoulé cultural identity and ideal Baoulé beauty.
Elongated, symmetrical face: an idealized representation of the human being, according to Baoulé aesthetics.
This mask was above all:
- a ritual object
- a ceremonial performance tool
- a means of communication with the spiritual world
It was not an autonomous magical object, but an element integrated into a set of rites, dances, and beliefs.
Conclusion
This type of Baoulé mask was used in large danced ceremonies, probably linked to the Goli cycle. Worn by a costumed dancer, it embodied a spiritual and social force meant to celebrate, protect, and unite the community.
This mask features very long, sinuous horns;
a combination of human and animal elements;
a structure designed to produce a strong visual impact during the dance;
prominent cylindrical ears characteristic of Baoulé performance masks.
These features further orient it toward the Goli mask family, more precisely toward a type derived from Kplekple or Goli glin, depending on classifications used by museums and ethnologists.
Why Goli instead?
The Goli cycle includes several masks appearing successively during ceremonies:
6. The Kplekple are generally circular and represent supernatural forces.
The Goli proper develop often animal attributes, notably antelope or buffalo horns.
The final masks of the cycle are often the most elegant and most anthropomorphic.
Your specimen combines a refined Baoulé-style face with tall horns, which aligns well with the aesthetics of Goli masks.
One point of note: the holes visible on the sides seem to have been used to fix a headdress, fibers, or a costume, which is consistent with a mask intended to be worn.
This mask is representative of Baoulé art, with balance between forms and volumes and finely carved details.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and a tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide with Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask African art Afrikaans 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
Hunter's mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Baule
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Excellent condition
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
