Baoulé Mblo mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
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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
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Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 430 mm
Width: 175 mm
Depth: 175 mm
Weight: 1.53 kg
Delivered without base
This anthropomorphic wooden mask is a characteristic creation of the Baoulé people, settled in the central region of the Ivory Coast. Within their rich traditional repertoire, this piece belongs to the famous category of entertainment and portrait masks known as Mblo (or Ndoma).
1. Origin and stylistic characteristics
Baoulé art favors smooth forms, symmetry, and refined execution. This mask beautifully illustrates these aesthetic criteria:
The globular, relief eyes: Unlike the almond-shaped, half-closed eyes commonly found in Baoulé sculpture, this model features large rounded, convex eyes. The upper and lower lids are clearly delineated, giving the mask a fixed, hypnotic, expressive gaze, while maintaining slim horizontal slits that allow the dancer to see.
The coiffure and crown: The treatment of the hair is particularly elaborate. It is rendered as a striped band of oblique lines framing the top of the forehead, crowned by a very fine geometric mesh or lattice. At the very top, a small zigzag border evokes a traditional comb or a miniature ceremonial crown.
Ritual scarifications (Ngole): Between the eyes, at the bridge of the nose, sits a small three-point geometric relief motif. This mark, typical of Baoulé body adornments, symbolizes cultural identity, refinement, and integration within the village's refined community.
Refined profile: The nose is thin and straight, while the mouth is carved in relief, small and projecting forward in a geometric manner. The contour of the cheeks and chin remains highly fluid.
Two-tone patina: The exterior face is coated with a dark, smooth, and glossy patina, characteristic of objects that have been handled and maintained for a long time. By contrast, the reverse shows a raw, vigorous planing cut with the herminette, revealing the natural wood texture and peripheral perforations intended to fix the costume.
2. Social and ritual use: Mblo celebrations
Among the Baoulé, Mblo-type masks occupy a central place in public and secular displays, distinguishing themselves from sacred masks reserved for male secret rituals.
Entertainment dances: This mask is worn during festive theatrical and choreographic performances called Gbagba or Mblo. These events are organized to enliven the village, celebrate the funeral of notable individuals, or welcome distinguished guests.
The double of a personality: The Mblo mask is designed as the idealized portrait of a respected community member (most often a woman). It is carved to honor her for her physical beauty, grace, or moral virtues (generosity, temperance). During the celebration, the honoree often dances alongside the mask bearer.
Structure of the performance: The dancer is completely concealed under a heavy costume made of textiles and raffia fibers attached to the edge of the wood. He executes a sequence of complex steps to the rhythm of the drums, sometimes mimicking traits of character or social parables.
3. Symbolic meaning
In Baoulé country, the formal beauty of an artwork is intrinsically linked to the morality of the individual it embodies. This mask does not aim to realistically reproduce the exact physical traits of the celebrated person, but to materialize the perfection of their soul.
The harmony of its proportions, the elegance of its coiffure, and the brilliance of its carefully maintained patina recall the importance of community values: calm, self-control, spiritual elegance, and respect for the social order established by the ancestors.
This mask is representative of Baoulé art, with a balance between forms and volumes and finely carved details.
Packages are quickly shipped from Monday to Saturday with a tracking number.
Delivery in France: 1 to 3 days; Europe: 2 to 5 days. Worldwide delivery.
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: 430 mm
Width: 175 mm
Depth: 175 mm
Weight: 1.53 kg
Delivered without base
This anthropomorphic wooden mask is a characteristic creation of the Baoulé people, settled in the central region of the Ivory Coast. Within their rich traditional repertoire, this piece belongs to the famous category of entertainment and portrait masks known as Mblo (or Ndoma).
1. Origin and stylistic characteristics
Baoulé art favors smooth forms, symmetry, and refined execution. This mask beautifully illustrates these aesthetic criteria:
The globular, relief eyes: Unlike the almond-shaped, half-closed eyes commonly found in Baoulé sculpture, this model features large rounded, convex eyes. The upper and lower lids are clearly delineated, giving the mask a fixed, hypnotic, expressive gaze, while maintaining slim horizontal slits that allow the dancer to see.
The coiffure and crown: The treatment of the hair is particularly elaborate. It is rendered as a striped band of oblique lines framing the top of the forehead, crowned by a very fine geometric mesh or lattice. At the very top, a small zigzag border evokes a traditional comb or a miniature ceremonial crown.
Ritual scarifications (Ngole): Between the eyes, at the bridge of the nose, sits a small three-point geometric relief motif. This mark, typical of Baoulé body adornments, symbolizes cultural identity, refinement, and integration within the village's refined community.
Refined profile: The nose is thin and straight, while the mouth is carved in relief, small and projecting forward in a geometric manner. The contour of the cheeks and chin remains highly fluid.
Two-tone patina: The exterior face is coated with a dark, smooth, and glossy patina, characteristic of objects that have been handled and maintained for a long time. By contrast, the reverse shows a raw, vigorous planing cut with the herminette, revealing the natural wood texture and peripheral perforations intended to fix the costume.
2. Social and ritual use: Mblo celebrations
Among the Baoulé, Mblo-type masks occupy a central place in public and secular displays, distinguishing themselves from sacred masks reserved for male secret rituals.
Entertainment dances: This mask is worn during festive theatrical and choreographic performances called Gbagba or Mblo. These events are organized to enliven the village, celebrate the funeral of notable individuals, or welcome distinguished guests.
The double of a personality: The Mblo mask is designed as the idealized portrait of a respected community member (most often a woman). It is carved to honor her for her physical beauty, grace, or moral virtues (generosity, temperance). During the celebration, the honoree often dances alongside the mask bearer.
Structure of the performance: The dancer is completely concealed under a heavy costume made of textiles and raffia fibers attached to the edge of the wood. He executes a sequence of complex steps to the rhythm of the drums, sometimes mimicking traits of character or social parables.
3. Symbolic meaning
In Baoulé country, the formal beauty of an artwork is intrinsically linked to the morality of the individual it embodies. This mask does not aim to realistically reproduce the exact physical traits of the celebrated person, but to materialize the perfection of their soul.
The harmony of its proportions, the elegance of its coiffure, and the brilliance of its carefully maintained patina recall the importance of community values: calm, self-control, spiritual elegance, and respect for the social order established by the ancestors.
This mask is representative of Baoulé art, with a balance between forms and volumes and finely carved details.
Packages are quickly shipped from Monday to Saturday with a tracking number.
Delivery in France: 1 to 3 days; Europe: 2 to 5 days. Worldwide delivery.
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
Baoulé Mblo 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
