Mask of Entertainment - Gouro - Côte d'Ivoire
03
days
15
hours
30
minutes
18
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Gouro
Wood
Height: 450mm
Width: 160mm
Depth: 140mm
This polychrome wooden anthropomorphic mask from Ivory Coast, of the Gouro people (with stylistic influence shared with their Baoulé neighbors). It specifically fits into the category of “colon” or post-colonial art.
1. Stylistic Features and Description of the Object
The aesthetics of this piece reveal a high mastery of figurative sculpture and a marked use of polychromy:
The Principal Face: The anthropomorphic face is very refined, painted in ochre/orange tones. The almond-shaped eyes, stretched and topped with clearly black eyebrows, as well as the long straight nose evoke the region’s classical beauty standards. The lips are outlined in red and black, and the ears are sculpted very realistically on the sides.
The Worked Hairstyle: The hair of the central figure is carved in bas-relief with black chevron geometric motifs, simulating elaborately pressed traditional braids.
The Summit Figure (The Colonial Personage): This is the central and most original element of the mask. Directly perched at the top of the coiffure, on a small base carved with wave motifs, sits a vivid red anthropomorphic statuette. This figure sports a black hairstyle or bun, a beaded neck (a sign of beauty and prosperity) and wears clothing painted blue and white evoking a modern outfit (such as overalls or a jumpsuit).
The Rear Hollowing: The rear view shows a raw and clean hollowing of the wood. The eye openings of the dancer are small discreet horizontal slits, and the mask’s border contains perforations to fix a costume made of fibers or fabric.
2. Origin and Evolution: “Colon” Art among the Gouro
Among the Gouro and Baoulé, the introduction of figures dressed in Western fashion or painted with industrial pigments (the “colonists”) appeared during the 20th century.
An adaptation of traditions: African art is not fixed. When sculptors faced new ways of life, the colonial administration, and then the dynamics of modernity, they naturally incorporated these images into their ritual and secular creations.
The Color Choices: The use of vivid and contrasting paints (red, blue, white) is typical of pieces intended to be seen from afar during festive performances.
3. Use and Social Function: Modern Popular Dances
This mask is associated with popular and secular entertainment dances in Ivory Coast, such as modern variants of Zaouli, Flali, or Goly.
The Popular Theater: During village celebrations, these masks intervene to tell contemporary stories. The summit figure can represent a typical character of modern society (a civil servant, an urban worker, a stylish woman). The dancer uses the mask to mime, caricature, or pay homage to these everyday-life figures.
Performance and Prestige: The costume attached to the mask entirely conceals the dancer’s body. Accompanied by a percussion ensemble, the wearer performs extremely fast and technical dance steps. The tall statuette atop the mask also poses a technical challenge for the dancer, who must show perfect agility to stabilize the piece during performance.
In short
This Gouro mask with a modern summit figure is an excellent example of the vitality of Ivory Coast art. It harmoniously merges the pure plasticity of traditional faces with the narrative creativity of contemporary art, making this piece a living spectacle object and a social chronicle.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France in 1 to 3 days with Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide with Colissimo international.
We speak english
Mask African art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art African statue art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane African 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
Gouro
Wood
Height: 450mm
Width: 160mm
Depth: 140mm
This polychrome wooden anthropomorphic mask from Ivory Coast, of the Gouro people (with stylistic influence shared with their Baoulé neighbors). It specifically fits into the category of “colon” or post-colonial art.
1. Stylistic Features and Description of the Object
The aesthetics of this piece reveal a high mastery of figurative sculpture and a marked use of polychromy:
The Principal Face: The anthropomorphic face is very refined, painted in ochre/orange tones. The almond-shaped eyes, stretched and topped with clearly black eyebrows, as well as the long straight nose evoke the region’s classical beauty standards. The lips are outlined in red and black, and the ears are sculpted very realistically on the sides.
The Worked Hairstyle: The hair of the central figure is carved in bas-relief with black chevron geometric motifs, simulating elaborately pressed traditional braids.
The Summit Figure (The Colonial Personage): This is the central and most original element of the mask. Directly perched at the top of the coiffure, on a small base carved with wave motifs, sits a vivid red anthropomorphic statuette. This figure sports a black hairstyle or bun, a beaded neck (a sign of beauty and prosperity) and wears clothing painted blue and white evoking a modern outfit (such as overalls or a jumpsuit).
The Rear Hollowing: The rear view shows a raw and clean hollowing of the wood. The eye openings of the dancer are small discreet horizontal slits, and the mask’s border contains perforations to fix a costume made of fibers or fabric.
2. Origin and Evolution: “Colon” Art among the Gouro
Among the Gouro and Baoulé, the introduction of figures dressed in Western fashion or painted with industrial pigments (the “colonists”) appeared during the 20th century.
An adaptation of traditions: African art is not fixed. When sculptors faced new ways of life, the colonial administration, and then the dynamics of modernity, they naturally incorporated these images into their ritual and secular creations.
The Color Choices: The use of vivid and contrasting paints (red, blue, white) is typical of pieces intended to be seen from afar during festive performances.
3. Use and Social Function: Modern Popular Dances
This mask is associated with popular and secular entertainment dances in Ivory Coast, such as modern variants of Zaouli, Flali, or Goly.
The Popular Theater: During village celebrations, these masks intervene to tell contemporary stories. The summit figure can represent a typical character of modern society (a civil servant, an urban worker, a stylish woman). The dancer uses the mask to mime, caricature, or pay homage to these everyday-life figures.
Performance and Prestige: The costume attached to the mask entirely conceals the dancer’s body. Accompanied by a percussion ensemble, the wearer performs extremely fast and technical dance steps. The tall statuette atop the mask also poses a technical challenge for the dancer, who must show perfect agility to stabilize the piece during performance.
In short
This Gouro mask with a modern summit figure is an excellent example of the vitality of Ivory Coast art. It harmoniously merges the pure plasticity of traditional faces with the narrative creativity of contemporary art, making this piece a living spectacle object and a social chronicle.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France in 1 to 3 days with Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide with Colissimo international.
We speak english
Mask African art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art African statue art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane African 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
Mask of Entertainment
Ethnic group/ culture
Gouro
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood / cordalette
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Fair condition
Sold by
