The Baule people of central Ivory Coast carve ‘portrait masks’, such as the present one, in order to ‘caricature’ well-known members of their society on the occasion of grand dance feasts (the so-called ‘Mblo dances’) in their villages. The dancers wearing these masks and costumes theatrically praise, caricature or criticise the persons represented. Some of these popular portrait masks also bear the name of the individual represented. In this case, they are called ‘Ndoma masks’, which corresponds to ‘the doppelgänger of ...’. The present portrait mask is stylistically especially beautiful, precisely and finely crafted. It is carved out of hard, light-coloured wood and coloured dark brown on the front side. It displays as ornament four rounded, twice kinked ‘horns’ at the top, above a carefully carved hairstyle in relief. These horns - according to information from Baule carvers in the professional literature - do not represent animal horns, but rather they are abstract, decorative elements which talented Baule carvers gladly employ. Under the ‘horns’ and the hairstyle, where remains of an earlier, white colouring are visible, the high, smooth forehead bulges out down to the three small, central scarification marks above the bridge of the nose, a tribal symbol of the Baule people. The eyebrows swing in an arched manner and create, with the lower half of the face, an elegant heart shape. The large, sunken eyelids lend the mask a serious, clever and knowing expression. Beneath the lids are found the narrow viewing slits for the dancer wearing the mask. The nose is straight and fine. The open mouth with its slightly curved, narrow lips enhances the serious, beautiful expression. The wide neck-border is uncoloured, because the mask costume would be placed over this and attached to it. Overall, an exceptionally successful masterpiece of style by a Baule carver. With a visibly old, shiny patina as a result of protracted use on the front side, as well as on the back (on the inside). Only minor age damage: a slight crack on the front, vertical on the forehead, colour scuffing, minimal breakages on the back rim. H: 45 cm; W: 17 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: French Private Collection.

Lit.: 'Baule. 'Baule. African Art - Western Eyes' by Susan M. Vogel, fig. p. 134, 137, 141, 162, 163, 168; ‘Trésors de Cote d’Ivoire’ by Francois Neyt, fig. 122, 123, 126, 128,134; ‘Les Maitres de la sculpture de Cote d’Ivoire’ by Eberhard Fischer & Lorenz Homberger, fig. 98.