Superb Wood BAULE PORTRAIT MASK Kpan Ivory Coast African Art

Description

This Baule portrait mask shows signs of use - fading, small scuffs and scrapes (but no splits or cracking) are a normal part of the patina of a mask this old - probably first half of the 20th century. It is 16 inches x 8 inches.
This stunning Baule mask falls into a special grouping known as ?portrait masks?. They are said to portray an honored person of the village who is celebrated during a ceremonial dance known as 'Mblo'.
In Baule communities
masks worn at the 'Mblo' represented stylized & idealized versions of specific people - so no two masks are identical. At the dance this beautifully carved mask would be worn with a multicolored costume and danced in the most graceful manner by either the person it represents or a relative. The costume would have been attached to the broad collar of the mask by cords that were threaded through the holes at the back of the mask. The dance appears to allow ordinary people to glimpse the world of spirits.
The Baule people live predominantly in the Cote d'Ivoire and are well known for their fine artwork. As a people, they were one of the strongest oppositional forces to French colonization of West Africa, and as a result, have held quite closely to their cultural heritage throughout recent history. Numbering around 400,000, the Baule are and
have long been a society that values equality and are among the most egalitarian in West Africa. The result of this social structure is a highly complex and exquisite artistic tradition. Becoming a sculptor/artist was a matter of personal choice, rather than caste/family tradition, and so numerous unique and elaborate styles developed among the Baule people. Their figures and masks are among the most highly sought after by African art collectors