Mblo mask of rejoicing - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire Baoulé Wood Height: 440mm Width: 160mm Depth: 120mm African wooden mask of the Baoulé people from Côte d'Ivoire, a major community in the center of Côte d'Ivoire. Collected in Bouaké in central Côte d'Ivoire. This mask is an anthropomorphic mask from Côte d'Ivoire that sits within the Baoulé artistic tradition (or that of their close neighbors, the Gouro). It is a Mblo-style entertainment mask (among the Baoulé), featuring a modern or so-called “colonial” stylistic influence due to the pigments and clothing of the figure. Here is the analysis of its use, meaning, and specifics: 1. Characteristics and stylistic originality The mask combines traditional lines with contemporary contributions: Facial treatment: The face has a beautiful oval shape, painted in a brown-orange or red ochre hue. Almond-shaped eyes, wide open but outlined with thick black circles, offer an expressive gaze. The eyebrows are carefully arched, and the mouth reveals whitened teeth. The colonial/modern summit figure: The headdress is topped by a full-length figure (a woman) carved in polychrome. She wears a simple white dress, and her skin is painted red. This inclusion of figures dressed in Western or modern fashion (common from the mid-20th century onward) testifies to the Ivory Coast sculptors' ability to integrate mutations in their social environment into ritual art. 2. Social use: Mblo celebrations A dancing, secular theater: Mblo-type masks are not designed to evoke fear or to accompany secret sacrificial rituals. They are worn during major public events, celebrations, or to honor distinguished guests. The commemorative portrait (Ndoma): Often, these masks stylize a living member of the community, valued for their talents, physical beauty, or moral integrity. The summit figure can thus directly reference the person’s occupation, social status, or an anecdote from the celebrated person’s life. 3. Cultural meaning The social chronicle: By incorporating modern or colonial-inspired figures, the sculptor does not merely innovate aesthetically; he documents the visual history of his people, contact with modernity, and the evolution of lifestyles in Côte d'Ivoire. Ideal of harmony: Despite the introduction of modern colors, the facial proportions respect the need for balance, symmetry, and serenity cherished in Baoulé philosophy and social order. On the back of the piece, the clear hollowing and side holes allowed the textile or fiber structure necessary to conceal the dancer completely and enable him to bring the character to life through a dynamic and often humorous choreography. Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and a tracking number. Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International. We speak English Mask of African art; African mask art; art of African masks; art of African statues; African mask art Mask of a gallery statue of African art

Estimate:$168.55

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