Mblo mask of rejoicing - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
03
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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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This wooden Baoulé Mblo festive mask from Côte d’Ivoire measures 28.5 cm high, 18 cm wide and 12 cm deep and is in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Côte d'Ivoire
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 285mm
Width: 180mm
Depth: 120mm
This wooden mask comes from the Baoulé people, an ethnic group of Ivory Coast (West Africa) belonging to the great Akan cultural family.
Baoulé art is universally admired for its refinement, the meticulous treatment of its surfaces and the constant pursuit of a serene harmony that reflects the moral virtues of society.
1. Stylistic and Aesthetic Characteristics
This piece is a classic example of the balance and formal elegance characteristic of Baoulé sculptors:
• The oval face and patina: The mask features a perfectly oval face with a high, open forehead. The carved wood benefits from a dark, smooth, semi-gloss patina, evidence of the care given to polishing the piece.
• The eyes and eyebrows: The eyebrows are two perfect arches, finely incised with small oblique lines imitating hair. They join to form a long, straight, very fine nasal ridge. The almond-shaped eyes are half-closed, almost lowered, a typical attitude of Baoulé statuary expressing inwardness, reserve, and dignity.
• The mouth and stylized beard: The mouth is small, sculpted in slight relief at the lower part of the face, lips pressed together. The contour of the jaw and chin is emphasized by a continuous jagged frieze symbolizing a stylized beard, a mark of wisdom and maturity.
• The hairstyle and the superstructure: The top of the forehead is delineated by a triangular border engraved with geometric chevron motifs representing a braided hairstyle. The mask is especially distinguished by its superstructure: two sculpted elements evoking receptacles or small ritual mortars, adorned at their top with a frieze of chevrons, an adornment that enhances the prestige of the character.
• The reverse and the mounting system: At the back, the hollowing is well marked to fit the wearer's face. The eyes are cut out for visibility. An important technical detail is visible: a fine transverse wood rod is securely fixed in the lower part. The dancer would grip it between his teeth to keep the mask firmly pressed against his face during the movements of the dance.
2. Use and Ritual Function: The Mblo Dance Mask
Among the Baoulé, this anthropomorphic mask belongs to the category of entertainment masks, more specifically associated with Mblo (or Gbagba) festivities:
• Tribute to an individual: Unlike Ivory Coast sacred masks that embody formidable powers of the bush, Mblo masks celebrate human beauty and often honor a living and esteemed member of the community (most often a woman renowned for her grace, uprightness, or dancing talents). The mask is an idealized version, not a realistic portrait, of the honored person.
• Celebrations and social cohesion: The mask bearer performs on the public village square during major dance festivals, post-harvest rejoicings, or funerals of notable people. He is accompanied by musicians and often by the person the mask is supposed to represent.
• The performance: Clad in a draped cloth costume that fully conceals his body, the dancer executes rhythmic steps and theatrical parodies. This profane ritual allows tensions in the village to be released, to celebrate community life, and to publicly honor the moral and aesthetic qualities of an individual.
Packages are shipped from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide by 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 TranslateCôte d'Ivoire
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 285mm
Width: 180mm
Depth: 120mm
This wooden mask comes from the Baoulé people, an ethnic group of Ivory Coast (West Africa) belonging to the great Akan cultural family.
Baoulé art is universally admired for its refinement, the meticulous treatment of its surfaces and the constant pursuit of a serene harmony that reflects the moral virtues of society.
1. Stylistic and Aesthetic Characteristics
This piece is a classic example of the balance and formal elegance characteristic of Baoulé sculptors:
• The oval face and patina: The mask features a perfectly oval face with a high, open forehead. The carved wood benefits from a dark, smooth, semi-gloss patina, evidence of the care given to polishing the piece.
• The eyes and eyebrows: The eyebrows are two perfect arches, finely incised with small oblique lines imitating hair. They join to form a long, straight, very fine nasal ridge. The almond-shaped eyes are half-closed, almost lowered, a typical attitude of Baoulé statuary expressing inwardness, reserve, and dignity.
• The mouth and stylized beard: The mouth is small, sculpted in slight relief at the lower part of the face, lips pressed together. The contour of the jaw and chin is emphasized by a continuous jagged frieze symbolizing a stylized beard, a mark of wisdom and maturity.
• The hairstyle and the superstructure: The top of the forehead is delineated by a triangular border engraved with geometric chevron motifs representing a braided hairstyle. The mask is especially distinguished by its superstructure: two sculpted elements evoking receptacles or small ritual mortars, adorned at their top with a frieze of chevrons, an adornment that enhances the prestige of the character.
• The reverse and the mounting system: At the back, the hollowing is well marked to fit the wearer's face. The eyes are cut out for visibility. An important technical detail is visible: a fine transverse wood rod is securely fixed in the lower part. The dancer would grip it between his teeth to keep the mask firmly pressed against his face during the movements of the dance.
2. Use and Ritual Function: The Mblo Dance Mask
Among the Baoulé, this anthropomorphic mask belongs to the category of entertainment masks, more specifically associated with Mblo (or Gbagba) festivities:
• Tribute to an individual: Unlike Ivory Coast sacred masks that embody formidable powers of the bush, Mblo masks celebrate human beauty and often honor a living and esteemed member of the community (most often a woman renowned for her grace, uprightness, or dancing talents). The mask is an idealized version, not a realistic portrait, of the honored person.
• Celebrations and social cohesion: The mask bearer performs on the public village square during major dance festivals, post-harvest rejoicings, or funerals of notable people. He is accompanied by musicians and often by the person the mask is supposed to represent.
• The performance: Clad in a draped cloth costume that fully conceals his body, the dancer executes rhythmic steps and theatrical parodies. This profane ritual allows tensions in the village to be released, to celebrate community life, and to publicly honor the moral and aesthetic qualities of an individual.
Packages are shipped from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide by 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
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
