Baule (Baoule, Bawule), Côte d’Ivoire

Mblo portrait mask. The Baule use three major types of masks: a helmet in the shape of a buffalo head, masks related only to the Goli festival and the masks representing a human face with fairly realistic features. The masks of the last group are used in mblo entertainment dances and are one of the oldest of Baule art forms. This mask is a portrait of a particular known individual. The faces of these masks are idealized. They  denote personal beauty, refinement, and a desire to give pleasure to others. The greater importance of the portrait masks, the need for the best dancers to wear them, and the requirement that the portrait’s subject also be available and willing to dance made them more rarely performed than animal masks, which could be worn by young, relatively inexperienced dancers. While performing, the dancers wear beautiful cloth and carry cow-tail fly whisks, fine scarves, or fresh green leaves. The portraits appear one by one, each escorted by its human “double” and each greeted as an honored guest.

Material:  wood

Size:   H. 18”, W. 5”, D. 3½”

Price:   $160+$18 (S&H)                                             [#U0G7M160]