Mblo entertainment mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
03
days
03
hours
54
minutes
15
seconds
Current bid
€ 16
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
 | €16 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €11 |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 144426 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
This original wooden Mblo portrait mask is from the Baoulé culture of Côte d’Ivoire.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 390 mm
Width: 190 mm
Depth: 190 mm
Small repair at the top middle on the back.
Baoulé Portrait Mask (Mblo / Ndoma)
Origin and Cultural Context
• The Baoulé People: This mask comes from the Baoulé (or Baule) ethnic group, mainly located in the central regions of Ivory Coast. The Baoulé are renowned in African art for their extreme refinement, naturalism, and attention to detail in their wood carvings.
• The Mblo / Ndoma Typology: This object is related to the Mblo type of masks (sometimes called Ndoma). These are portrait masks that present a highly idealized representation of a respected community member (most often a woman or a dignitary), created to celebrate their physical beauty, grace, or moral qualities.
Physical and Aesthetic Characteristics
The analysis of the object reveals stylistic elements typical of this courtly art:
• Pigmentation and contrast: The face bears a bright red patina that contrasts strongly with touches of black and white pigments highlighting the gaze and morphological details.
• The sophisticated coiffure: The hair, carved in relief with fine regular geometric grooves, is topped with a bun or elaborated crest. Among the Baoulé, a carefully arranged coiffure is a symbol of prestige, social order, and elegance.
• Scarifications: Small raised marks (ritual scarifications) are arranged symmetrically on the forehead and at the corners of the eyes, features of traditional aesthetic and identity criteria.
• Facial expression: Arched eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes give the mask a serene and inward look. The slightly open mouth, showing carved teeth, adds a touch of naturalism and expressiveness that enlivens the piece.
• The crenellated collar: The lower part of the face is encircled by a beard or stylized ornament in the form of a black toothed frieze, completing the overall balance of the mask.
Ritual Use and Function
Unlike other masks that are purely sacred or secret, the Mblo mask is mainly used in a setting of public entertainment and celebration.
• Joyful dances (Gbagba): These masks appear at the end of festive ceremonies or during funerals of important people. The dancer (always a man), fully costumed in fabrics or raffia fibers, mimics scenes of daily life or pays homage to the person whose mask is depicted. Women and children are fully allowed to attend these performances.
• Reversing design and ergonomics: The inner side reveals the artisan’s work. The interior is entirely hollowed out with an adze, matching the wearer’s face. The side openings were used to attach cords or fabric to secure the mask. There is also a small transverse opening at the level of the mouth of the sculpture, serving as a peephole or breathing opening for the dancer during the performance.
Fast and protected shipping. Parcels are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France with Chronopost, 2 to 5 days throughout the European Union with Chronopost International. Delivery with 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 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: 190 mm
Depth: 190 mm
Small repair at the top middle on the back.
Baoulé Portrait Mask (Mblo / Ndoma)
Origin and Cultural Context
• The Baoulé People: This mask comes from the Baoulé (or Baule) ethnic group, mainly located in the central regions of Ivory Coast. The Baoulé are renowned in African art for their extreme refinement, naturalism, and attention to detail in their wood carvings.
• The Mblo / Ndoma Typology: This object is related to the Mblo type of masks (sometimes called Ndoma). These are portrait masks that present a highly idealized representation of a respected community member (most often a woman or a dignitary), created to celebrate their physical beauty, grace, or moral qualities.
Physical and Aesthetic Characteristics
The analysis of the object reveals stylistic elements typical of this courtly art:
• Pigmentation and contrast: The face bears a bright red patina that contrasts strongly with touches of black and white pigments highlighting the gaze and morphological details.
• The sophisticated coiffure: The hair, carved in relief with fine regular geometric grooves, is topped with a bun or elaborated crest. Among the Baoulé, a carefully arranged coiffure is a symbol of prestige, social order, and elegance.
• Scarifications: Small raised marks (ritual scarifications) are arranged symmetrically on the forehead and at the corners of the eyes, features of traditional aesthetic and identity criteria.
• Facial expression: Arched eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes give the mask a serene and inward look. The slightly open mouth, showing carved teeth, adds a touch of naturalism and expressiveness that enlivens the piece.
• The crenellated collar: The lower part of the face is encircled by a beard or stylized ornament in the form of a black toothed frieze, completing the overall balance of the mask.
Ritual Use and Function
Unlike other masks that are purely sacred or secret, the Mblo mask is mainly used in a setting of public entertainment and celebration.
• Joyful dances (Gbagba): These masks appear at the end of festive ceremonies or during funerals of important people. The dancer (always a man), fully costumed in fabrics or raffia fibers, mimics scenes of daily life or pays homage to the person whose mask is depicted. Women and children are fully allowed to attend these performances.
• Reversing design and ergonomics: The inner side reveals the artisan’s work. The interior is entirely hollowed out with an adze, matching the wearer’s face. The side openings were used to attach cords or fabric to secure the mask. There is also a small transverse opening at the level of the mouth of the sculpture, serving as a peephole or breathing opening for the dancer during the performance.
Fast and protected shipping. Parcels are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France with Chronopost, 2 to 5 days throughout the European Union with Chronopost International. Delivery with 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 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 entertainment mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Baule
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Fair condition
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
