Mblo entertainment mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
01
day
15
hours
31
minutes
14
seconds
Current bid
€ 92
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
 | €92 | |
|---|---|---|
| €65 | |
| €35 | |
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This 31.5 cm wooden Mblo entertainment mask is from Côte d’Ivoire and belongs to the Baoulé culture.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 315 mm
Width: 150 mm
Depth: 135 mm
This 31.5 cm mask comes from the central region of Ivory Coast. It is a Baoulé mask (or more precisely Yaouré / Gouro influence, neighboring ethnicities sharing a very similar aesthetic).
More specifically, it is an anthropomorphic Mblo type mask (or portrait mask).
Origin and Aesthetic Characteristics
• The refinement of features: This mask embodies the Baoulé culture's ideal beauty criteria: an oval, harmonious face, almond-shaped, half-closed eyes evoking interiority and serenity, and a long, fine nose.
• The coiffure and scarifications: The tall, beautifully striated hairstyle divided into a crest indicates a high social status. The square geometric motifs on the forehead and temples represent traditional scarifications (ngole), signs of civilization, beauty, and maturity.
• Polychromy and the border: The face coated with a bright red pigment symbolizes youth, vitality, and the beauty of the skin. The perimeter of the face is outlined by a characteristic serrated border painted in black and white, which delicately frames the features.
• The inner face: Visible on the back, the carving work shows a carefully hollowed cavity with traces of the pilliers (herminette tool), as well as a beautiful brown patina of wear and side holes to attach the cloth or raffia costume.
Usage and Ritual Function
Unlike power or justice masks (such as Wè or Bété masks), the Mblo mask has essentially social, commemorative, and festive functions:
• Entertainment and celebration: It is used during rejoicing dances (Gbagba or Mblo). The dancer, entirely concealed under a costume, imitates poses and performs rhythmic choreographies to entertain the village during major celebrations or the arrival of distinguished guests.
• Homage and Portrait: This mask is often commissioned to pay tribute to a remarkable woman or man in the community (recognized for beauty, wisdom, or dancing talents). It is not a realistic portrait in the Western sense, but a stylized representation of the spiritual essence and moral qualities of the honored person, who often attends the dance by their side.
• Calming at funerals: Although festive, it can also be shown at the funerals of a family member of the owner to honor the spirit of the deceased and accompany them peacefully to the world of ancestors.
Fast and protected shipping. Parcels are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France with Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union with Chronopost International. Delivery with Colissimo International to the rest of Europe and worldwide
We speak English.
Mask African art Afro-American mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue African art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afro-American mask art
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: 315 mm
Width: 150 mm
Depth: 135 mm
This 31.5 cm mask comes from the central region of Ivory Coast. It is a Baoulé mask (or more precisely Yaouré / Gouro influence, neighboring ethnicities sharing a very similar aesthetic).
More specifically, it is an anthropomorphic Mblo type mask (or portrait mask).
Origin and Aesthetic Characteristics
• The refinement of features: This mask embodies the Baoulé culture's ideal beauty criteria: an oval, harmonious face, almond-shaped, half-closed eyes evoking interiority and serenity, and a long, fine nose.
• The coiffure and scarifications: The tall, beautifully striated hairstyle divided into a crest indicates a high social status. The square geometric motifs on the forehead and temples represent traditional scarifications (ngole), signs of civilization, beauty, and maturity.
• Polychromy and the border: The face coated with a bright red pigment symbolizes youth, vitality, and the beauty of the skin. The perimeter of the face is outlined by a characteristic serrated border painted in black and white, which delicately frames the features.
• The inner face: Visible on the back, the carving work shows a carefully hollowed cavity with traces of the pilliers (herminette tool), as well as a beautiful brown patina of wear and side holes to attach the cloth or raffia costume.
Usage and Ritual Function
Unlike power or justice masks (such as Wè or Bété masks), the Mblo mask has essentially social, commemorative, and festive functions:
• Entertainment and celebration: It is used during rejoicing dances (Gbagba or Mblo). The dancer, entirely concealed under a costume, imitates poses and performs rhythmic choreographies to entertain the village during major celebrations or the arrival of distinguished guests.
• Homage and Portrait: This mask is often commissioned to pay tribute to a remarkable woman or man in the community (recognized for beauty, wisdom, or dancing talents). It is not a realistic portrait in the Western sense, but a stylized representation of the spiritual essence and moral qualities of the honored person, who often attends the dance by their side.
• Calming at funerals: Although festive, it can also be shown at the funerals of a family member of the owner to honor the spirit of the deceased and accompany them peacefully to the world of ancestors.
Fast and protected shipping. Parcels are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France with Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union with Chronopost International. Delivery with Colissimo International to the rest of Europe and worldwide
We speak English.
Mask African art Afro-American mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue African art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afro-American mask art
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 entertainment mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Baule
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
