Mblo mask of rejoicing - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
03
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06
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57
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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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Masque de réjouissance Mblo, a Baoulé wooden Mblo entertainment mask from Côte d'Ivoire, collected in Bouaké, in good condition, measuring 440 mm high, 160 mm wide and 120 mm deep.
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Description from the seller
Côte d'Ivoire
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 440mm
Width: 160mm
Depth: 120mm
African wooden mask of the Baoulé people from Côte d'Ivoire, a major community in the center of Côte d'Ivoire.
Collected in Bouaké in central Côte d'Ivoire.
This mask is an anthropomorphic mask from Côte d'Ivoire that sits within the Baoulé artistic tradition (or that of their close neighbors, the Gouro).
It is a Mblo-style entertainment mask (among the Baoulé), featuring a modern or so-called “colonial” stylistic influence due to the pigments and clothing of the figure.
Here is the analysis of its use, meaning, and specifics:
1. Characteristics and stylistic originality
The mask combines traditional lines with contemporary contributions:
Facial treatment: The face has a beautiful oval shape, painted in a brown-orange or red ochre hue. Almond-shaped eyes, wide open but outlined with thick black circles, offer an expressive gaze. The eyebrows are carefully arched, and the mouth reveals whitened teeth.
The colonial/modern summit figure: The headdress is topped by a full-length figure (a woman) carved in polychrome. She wears a simple white dress, and her skin is painted red. This inclusion of figures dressed in Western or modern fashion (common from the mid-20th century onward) testifies to the Ivory Coast sculptors' ability to integrate mutations in their social environment into ritual art.
2. Social use: Mblo celebrations
A dancing, secular theater: Mblo-type masks are not designed to evoke fear or to accompany secret sacrificial rituals. They are worn during major public events, celebrations, or to honor distinguished guests.
The commemorative portrait (Ndoma): Often, these masks stylize a living member of the community, valued for their talents, physical beauty, or moral integrity. The summit figure can thus directly reference the person’s occupation, social status, or an anecdote from the celebrated person’s life.
3. Cultural meaning
The social chronicle: By incorporating modern or colonial-inspired figures, the sculptor does not merely innovate aesthetically; he documents the visual history of his people, contact with modernity, and the evolution of lifestyles in Côte d'Ivoire.
Ideal of harmony: Despite the introduction of modern colors, the facial proportions respect the need for balance, symmetry, and serenity cherished in Baoulé philosophy and social order.
On the back of the piece, the clear hollowing and side holes allowed the textile or fiber structure necessary to conceal the dancer completely and enable him to bring the character to life through a dynamic and often humorous choreography.
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 via Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask of African art; African mask art; art of African masks; art of African statues; African mask art
Mask of a gallery statue of African art
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 TranslateCôte d'Ivoire
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 440mm
Width: 160mm
Depth: 120mm
African wooden mask of the Baoulé people from Côte d'Ivoire, a major community in the center of Côte d'Ivoire.
Collected in Bouaké in central Côte d'Ivoire.
This mask is an anthropomorphic mask from Côte d'Ivoire that sits within the Baoulé artistic tradition (or that of their close neighbors, the Gouro).
It is a Mblo-style entertainment mask (among the Baoulé), featuring a modern or so-called “colonial” stylistic influence due to the pigments and clothing of the figure.
Here is the analysis of its use, meaning, and specifics:
1. Characteristics and stylistic originality
The mask combines traditional lines with contemporary contributions:
Facial treatment: The face has a beautiful oval shape, painted in a brown-orange or red ochre hue. Almond-shaped eyes, wide open but outlined with thick black circles, offer an expressive gaze. The eyebrows are carefully arched, and the mouth reveals whitened teeth.
The colonial/modern summit figure: The headdress is topped by a full-length figure (a woman) carved in polychrome. She wears a simple white dress, and her skin is painted red. This inclusion of figures dressed in Western or modern fashion (common from the mid-20th century onward) testifies to the Ivory Coast sculptors' ability to integrate mutations in their social environment into ritual art.
2. Social use: Mblo celebrations
A dancing, secular theater: Mblo-type masks are not designed to evoke fear or to accompany secret sacrificial rituals. They are worn during major public events, celebrations, or to honor distinguished guests.
The commemorative portrait (Ndoma): Often, these masks stylize a living member of the community, valued for their talents, physical beauty, or moral integrity. The summit figure can thus directly reference the person’s occupation, social status, or an anecdote from the celebrated person’s life.
3. Cultural meaning
The social chronicle: By incorporating modern or colonial-inspired figures, the sculptor does not merely innovate aesthetically; he documents the visual history of his people, contact with modernity, and the evolution of lifestyles in Côte d'Ivoire.
Ideal of harmony: Despite the introduction of modern colors, the facial proportions respect the need for balance, symmetry, and serenity cherished in Baoulé philosophy and social order.
On the back of the piece, the clear hollowing and side holes allowed the textile or fiber structure necessary to conceal the dancer completely and enable him to bring the character to life through a dynamic and often humorous choreography.
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 via Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask of African art; African mask art; art of African masks; art of African statues; African mask art
Mask of a gallery statue of African art
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 of rejoicing
Ethnic group/ culture
Baule
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
