Baulé Mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire

Mblo masks, used in entertainment dances, are one of the oldest forms of Baulé art. These refined masks, representing human faces, are generally portraits of a particular known individual. The Mblo embodies the fundamental Baulé style. The well-polished curved surfaces, suggesting healthy, well-nourished skin, are enhanced by delicately textured surfaces representing hairstyles, scarifications, and other adornments. The faces are idealized and thoughtful, with high foreheads and large, low-set eyes. The face decorations, braids, hairstyles, and scarifications highlight personal beauty, refinement, and the desire to give pleasure to others. Mblo is the name of a type of performance that uses face masks in isolated or periodic dances. It consists of a structured form of performance, equivalent to a parody.

Provenance: Berthe Hartert collection.
Argiles collection, Barcelona