Wood, greyish brown patina, remains of indigo blue pigment, encrustations with camwood powder, an oval vaulted base with superimposed male mask face, of elongated form with bulging forehead, a long delicate nose and raised scarification marks, coiffure arranged in three lobes, grass fibre cuff backside.

One of the oldest of Baule dances is the mblo, a dance of celebration and entertainment that honours an ancestor. Masks worn at the mblo depict actual people, unlike many other masks from Africa where spirits or ancestors are created in a generic form. The masks used for the Mblo are often an actual representation of a known individual idealized according to the Baule standards of beauty. The Baule describe some of these masks as portraits of beautiful women and brave men.
Slightly damaged, missing parts (nose tip, forehead tattoos, coiffure), minor cracks, paint rubbed off, place of repair (lobe). On base.
H: 41 cm (16 1/10 inch).

Literature:
Bourgeois, Arthur and Rodolitz, S. (2003) Remnants of Ritual: Selections from The Gelbard Collection of African Art.

For additional information please contact S.A. Gallery.

Regional & Ethnic Antiques