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 (hence the name ‘mblo masks’). The dancers wearing these masks and costumes characterise, praise, caricature or criticise the persons represented, to the enjoyment of the audience. 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 carved from hard, heavy, brown wood and coloured black-brown. It displays a round, high hairstyle which is flat at the back, of finely carved lines in relief, and a slightly asymmetrical goatee, with geometric relief decoration (the goatee indicates that this mask is ‘male’). The pointed knobs on both sides do not represent a ‘beard’, but are only popular decorative elements of the Baule carver. The typical, oblong Baule face shows a high, smooth forehead, with scarification marks on both temples. The splayed eyebrow arches are accentuated with short lines. The nose is long and narrow. The eyelids are half-closed. Beneath the lids are narrow slits through which the masked dancer could look out. The accentuated, somewhat protruding, closed mouth, with its hanging corners, gives this mask a very serious expression. A typical, accomplished and finely crafted object, without any notable damage. With colour scuffing to exposed areas (forehead, nose, cheeks, mouth) through the protracted use of this mask, as well as with an extraordinarily good, shiny usage patina on the rear interior, where forehead, nose, cheeks and chin of the mask dancer rubbed against it for a long time. There is an inventory number of a collection, in white lettering, on the back, on the hairstyle above.
Height: 38.5 cm; width: 17 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: South African private collection.

Lit.: ‘Baule. African Art - Western Eyes’ by Susan M. Vogel, p. 27, 140, 142.