Zaouli's celebratory mask. - Gouro - Côte d'Ivoire
02
days
08
hours
14
minutes
55
seconds
Current bid
€ 25
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
 | €25 | |
|---|---|---|
| €20 | |
| €15 | |
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The wooden Gouro Zaouli rejoicing mask originates from Côte d’Ivoire and has a fine crack at the upper back.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Guro
Wood
Height: 430 mm
Width: 140 mm
Depth: 130 mm
Fine crack at the top rear, see photo.
This anthropo-zoomorphic mask is a fine example of a ceremonial mask from the Gouro people (center-west Côte d'Ivoire).
1. Origin and Gouro Aesthetic Canon
The Gouro (close neighbors of the Yaoure and Baoule) share a great refinement in wood sculpture, but their masks are often distinguished by complex composite compositions topped with animals or totemic elements:
• Refined face: A face with elongated proportions, almond-shaped eyes half-closed emphasized by arched eyebrows with fine incisions, and geometric scarifications (notably grid-like) on the temples.
• The sawtooth border: The entire lower and lateral contour of the mask is fringed with small serrated notches, an emblematic aesthetic signature of Gouro and Yaoure sculptors.
• The hybrid superstructure: The crest is particularly elaborate:
o A curved bird beak (often a hornbill) plunges over the top of the forehead.
o Two large horns of bovine/antelope rise like a cradle on each side.
o At the center of this structure stands a stylized elephant head with its trunk and tusks (or sometimes a dual anthropomorphic/zoomorphic figure).
2. Ritual Use and Ceremony Societies
Among the Gouro, these carved masks with such a high level of detail belong to the realm of festival and noble entertainment masks, often associated with the ritual societies Zaouli or Guani:
• Festivities and entertainment (Zaouli / Flali): These masks are worn by seasoned dancers fully dressed in multicolored fiber costumes. The dance, extremely fast and virtuoso, marks grand village celebrations, popular rejoicing, or harvest conclusions.
• Honor ceremonies: They also appear during funerals of important personalities or to greet visiting dignitaries, to celebrate community cohesion and prestige.
3. Symbolic Function
The combined presence of several animals atop the face is not accidental; it creates an alliance of powerful symbols:
• The Elephant (Yassoua): The ultimate symbol of brute strength, royalty, authority, and lasting wisdom. It grants the wearer an aura of uncontrollable yet respected power.
• The Horns: They evoke fertility, the force of nature, and the link with the bush (wondé).
• The Bird (Hornbill): It embodies clairvoyance, the role of spiritual messenger, and the link between the earthly world and ancestral spirits.
By combining the harmonious beauty of a human face with the protective attributes of the great forest animals, this mask seeks to channel the life energy (nyama) of the wild to serve beauty, social order, and celebration within the village.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
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
Guro
Wood
Height: 430 mm
Width: 140 mm
Depth: 130 mm
Fine crack at the top rear, see photo.
This anthropo-zoomorphic mask is a fine example of a ceremonial mask from the Gouro people (center-west Côte d'Ivoire).
1. Origin and Gouro Aesthetic Canon
The Gouro (close neighbors of the Yaoure and Baoule) share a great refinement in wood sculpture, but their masks are often distinguished by complex composite compositions topped with animals or totemic elements:
• Refined face: A face with elongated proportions, almond-shaped eyes half-closed emphasized by arched eyebrows with fine incisions, and geometric scarifications (notably grid-like) on the temples.
• The sawtooth border: The entire lower and lateral contour of the mask is fringed with small serrated notches, an emblematic aesthetic signature of Gouro and Yaoure sculptors.
• The hybrid superstructure: The crest is particularly elaborate:
o A curved bird beak (often a hornbill) plunges over the top of the forehead.
o Two large horns of bovine/antelope rise like a cradle on each side.
o At the center of this structure stands a stylized elephant head with its trunk and tusks (or sometimes a dual anthropomorphic/zoomorphic figure).
2. Ritual Use and Ceremony Societies
Among the Gouro, these carved masks with such a high level of detail belong to the realm of festival and noble entertainment masks, often associated with the ritual societies Zaouli or Guani:
• Festivities and entertainment (Zaouli / Flali): These masks are worn by seasoned dancers fully dressed in multicolored fiber costumes. The dance, extremely fast and virtuoso, marks grand village celebrations, popular rejoicing, or harvest conclusions.
• Honor ceremonies: They also appear during funerals of important personalities or to greet visiting dignitaries, to celebrate community cohesion and prestige.
3. Symbolic Function
The combined presence of several animals atop the face is not accidental; it creates an alliance of powerful symbols:
• The Elephant (Yassoua): The ultimate symbol of brute strength, royalty, authority, and lasting wisdom. It grants the wearer an aura of uncontrollable yet respected power.
• The Horns: They evoke fertility, the force of nature, and the link with the bush (wondé).
• The Bird (Hornbill): It embodies clairvoyance, the role of spiritual messenger, and the link between the earthly world and ancestral spirits.
By combining the harmonious beauty of a human face with the protective attributes of the great forest animals, this mask seeks to channel the life energy (nyama) of the wild to serve beauty, social order, and celebration within the village.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
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
Zaouli's celebratory mask.
Ethnic group/ culture
Gouro
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
