Mblo Mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
03
days
03
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51
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30
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€ 1
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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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The wooden Masque Mblo is a Baoulé mask from Côte d’Ivoire.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 400mm
Width: 195mm
Depth: 180mm
Weight: 1.15kg
Supplied without a base
This carved wooden mask is a characteristic creation of the Baoulé people in Ivory Coast.
1. Geographical and cultural origin
The Baoulé people: Based in the central region of Ivory Coast, the Baoulé are part of the large Akan linguistic and cultural group. Their art is renowned for its finesse, sense of proportions, and the pursuit of perfect visual harmony.
The notion of moral beauty: In Baoulé statuary, the purity of lines and the care given to details (hairstyle, scarifications) are not merely aesthetic. They reflect the concept of klolo, inner beauty, dignity and spiritual maturity of an individual.
2. Ritual use and social function
This anthropomorphic facial mask is mainly part of the great dances of rejoicing and sacred entertainment of the community, such as Mblo (or Gbagba).
Entertainment and social cohesion: Unlike other West African masks with a purely formidable or sacred vocation, Mblo masks are designed to bring joy. They appear during village festivities, to honor the arrival of prestigious guests or to celebrate the memory of a respected elder at their funeral. The dancer, fully concealed beneath a costume, imitates human behaviors or parodies local figures to amuse and bind the community.
Idealization of features: Although worn exclusively by men, these masks often depict female faces. They pay homage to a village woman renowned for her beauty, grace, or social standing, freezing her features into an eternally young and sublimated form.
3. Stylistic characteristics
The piece’ craftsmanship follows very precise artistic canons:
The expression of serenity: The eyes are almond-shaped, half-closed or lowered toward the ground. This attitude expresses inner life, respect, calm, and restraint, highly valued qualities among the Baoulé. The nose is fine and straight, extending with high arched eyebrows.
The sophisticated hairstyle: The crown of the head is adorned with a tall sagittal crest sculpted. Its finely engraved geometric motifs imitate the braids and traditional complex hairstyles worn by distinguished women.
The scarifications and patina: Scarified reliefs are visible at the corners of the lips, on the cheeks or the forehead, reproducing the identity and aesthetic marks of the ethnicity. The external face is covered with a beautiful dark patina, smooth and satin, achieved by successive applications of vegetable oils or natural pigments.
The inner structure: The back of the mask is deeply hollowed to fit the dancer’s face. Two fine horizontal slits are cut at the level of the eyelids to ensure minimal visibility, while small holes around the rim allow the fabric or fiber costume to be securely tied to the mask.
Packages are dispatched quickly from Monday to Saturday with a tracking number.
Delivery takes 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days across Europe. Worldwide shipping.
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: 400mm
Width: 195mm
Depth: 180mm
Weight: 1.15kg
Supplied without a base
This carved wooden mask is a characteristic creation of the Baoulé people in Ivory Coast.
1. Geographical and cultural origin
The Baoulé people: Based in the central region of Ivory Coast, the Baoulé are part of the large Akan linguistic and cultural group. Their art is renowned for its finesse, sense of proportions, and the pursuit of perfect visual harmony.
The notion of moral beauty: In Baoulé statuary, the purity of lines and the care given to details (hairstyle, scarifications) are not merely aesthetic. They reflect the concept of klolo, inner beauty, dignity and spiritual maturity of an individual.
2. Ritual use and social function
This anthropomorphic facial mask is mainly part of the great dances of rejoicing and sacred entertainment of the community, such as Mblo (or Gbagba).
Entertainment and social cohesion: Unlike other West African masks with a purely formidable or sacred vocation, Mblo masks are designed to bring joy. They appear during village festivities, to honor the arrival of prestigious guests or to celebrate the memory of a respected elder at their funeral. The dancer, fully concealed beneath a costume, imitates human behaviors or parodies local figures to amuse and bind the community.
Idealization of features: Although worn exclusively by men, these masks often depict female faces. They pay homage to a village woman renowned for her beauty, grace, or social standing, freezing her features into an eternally young and sublimated form.
3. Stylistic characteristics
The piece’ craftsmanship follows very precise artistic canons:
The expression of serenity: The eyes are almond-shaped, half-closed or lowered toward the ground. This attitude expresses inner life, respect, calm, and restraint, highly valued qualities among the Baoulé. The nose is fine and straight, extending with high arched eyebrows.
The sophisticated hairstyle: The crown of the head is adorned with a tall sagittal crest sculpted. Its finely engraved geometric motifs imitate the braids and traditional complex hairstyles worn by distinguished women.
The scarifications and patina: Scarified reliefs are visible at the corners of the lips, on the cheeks or the forehead, reproducing the identity and aesthetic marks of the ethnicity. The external face is covered with a beautiful dark patina, smooth and satin, achieved by successive applications of vegetable oils or natural pigments.
The inner structure: The back of the mask is deeply hollowed to fit the dancer’s face. Two fine horizontal slits are cut at the level of the eyelids to ensure minimal visibility, while small holes around the rim allow the fabric or fiber costume to be securely tied to the mask.
Packages are dispatched quickly from Monday to Saturday with a tracking number.
Delivery takes 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days across Europe. Worldwide shipping.
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 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
