Baule, Ivory Coast: A so-called ‘portrait mask’, depicting a high-ranking personality.
With these ‘portrait masks’, called ‘Mblo’, the carvers of the Baule people attempt to portray individual members of the village community. In popular theatrical performances, dancers wearing these masks and costumes praise, caricature or criticise the persons represented and their actions.
The present ‘portrait mask’ is made of light-coloured wood, carved in typical Baule style and dyed black on the front side. With scarification marks on the forehead, temples and near the corners of the mouth, a goatee and a serrated beard. The very finely crafted hairstyle, with a wreath of ten knops above the forehead, suggest that this might be the portrait of a high-ranking male personality.
An old piece with good usage patina on the front and back, a curved iron pin behind the hair (in the middle of the upper section), and with only minor, age-related damage (small pieces broken off on the back of the right rim).
First third of the 20th century; H: 32 cm. (ME)
Lit.: 'Baule. African Art - Western Eyes' by Susan M. Vogel, fig. p. 142, 162, 163, 164, 165.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
26.05.2015 - 15:00
- Realized price: **
-
EUR 5,000.-
- Estimate:
-
EUR 4,000.- to EUR 6,000.-
Baule, Ivory Coast: A so-called ‘portrait mask’, depicting a high-ranking personality.
With these ‘portrait masks’, called ‘Mblo’, the carvers of the Baule people attempt to portray individual members of the village community. In popular theatrical performances, dancers wearing these masks and costumes praise, caricature or criticise the persons represented and their actions.
The present ‘portrait mask’ is made of light-coloured wood, carved in typical Baule style and dyed black on the front side. With scarification marks on the forehead, temples and near the corners of the mouth, a goatee and a serrated beard. The very finely crafted hairstyle, with a wreath of ten knops above the forehead, suggest that this might be the portrait of a high-ranking male personality.
An old piece with good usage patina on the front and back, a curved iron pin behind the hair (in the middle of the upper section), and with only minor, age-related damage (small pieces broken off on the back of the right rim).
First third of the 20th century; H: 32 cm. (ME)
Lit.: 'Baule. African Art - Western Eyes' by Susan M. Vogel, fig. p. 142, 162, 163, 164, 165.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 26.05.2015 - 15:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 20.05. - 26.05.2015 |
** Purchase price incl. buyer's premium and VAT
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