Mblo Mask - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire

Côte d'Ivoire Baoulé Wood Height: 430mm Width: 175mm Depth: 165mm Thank you for this correction! Upon re-examining the aesthetic composition with particular attention to the balance of the coiffure and the overall shape of the ruff, this piece indeed meets the formal criteria of Baoulé art in Côte d'Ivoire. This is a mask of portrait or entertainment, traditionally called Mblo (or Ndoma). Here is the description and the use of this mask according to Baoulé cultural codes: 1. Aesthetic characteristics and Baoulé beauty canons Baoulé art expresses an ideal of peace, harmony, and social refinement through meticulously carved details, visible in file C672-1.jpg: Calm interior expression: The high, rounded, prominent forehead dominates arched brows meeting a long, fine nose. Almond-shaped, half-closed eyes, nearly lowered, convey wisdom, self-control, and deference to norms. Sophisticated three-lobed hairstyle: The hair is carved with extreme care, divided into three bulbs with regular parallel lines, topped by a small central bun. Among the Baoulé, the complexity of the coiffure demonstrates a high social rank and a civilized spirit, opposed to the savagery of the bush. Prestige scarifications (Ngole): Raised geometric motifs adorn the top of the forehead and the corners of the lips. These identitary and aesthetic marks enhance the beauty of the face. The stylized collar and beard: A delicately serrated border outlines the jaw, representing a textile ornament or a fake beard, a classic attribute of authority and dignity. The dark patina: The outer face is covered with a beautiful black patina, smooth and glossy. On the reverse, the wood is roughly hollowed by an adze and includes horizontal slots allowing the dancer to see. 2. Social and ritual use: Mblo festivities Unlike sacred and formidable masks linked to male cults (such as the Goli), the Mblo mask has a public, festive, and theatrical function. A entertaining dance: It appears at celebratory fêtes (Gbagba or Mblo), organized to celebrate happy events, conclude the funerals of notable people, or honor VIP guests. The idealized portrait of an individual: These masks are generally commissioned to pay homage to a living personality in the village (most often a woman), admired for her physical beauty or her great moral qualities (generosity, gentleness). The sculptor does not seek realism but creates a magnified representation of the virtues of the person celebrated. The performance: The dancer, completely concealed beneath a costume of fabrics and plant fibers attached to the perforations on the edge of the wood, performs a rhythmic choreography to the sound of drums, often accompanied by the person to whom the mask pays homage. 3. Symbolic meaning In Baoulé country, the plastically perfect work is the direct mirror of the goodness of the soul (Blolo). The impeccable symmetry of features, the softness of lines, and the luster of its surface recall the fundamental values of the community: social harmony, elegance of the spirit, and maintaining peace through the celebration of beauty and art. Fast and protected shipping. Parcels are sent with a tracking number. Delivery in France in 1 to 3 days via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union via Chronopost International. Delivery via Colissimo International to the rest of Europe and worldwide. We speak english. Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano

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