Face mask of the "mblo" group

Description

wood, slightly shiny brown patina, of round form, the actual facial plane arranged on a small area, raised scarifications, fine grooved diadem-shaped coiffure, crowned by a bird sculpture, slightly dam. drilled holes backside;
the dances that feature “mblo” masks are always “women’s” dances, so called because women may participate, and because the style of the dance movement is considered feminine and very beautiful. In the minds of the Baule, these masks are associated with the village and with women, although it is of course men who wear them in dances. These dances, called “gbagba”, are for entertainment on the Baule days of rest, the new year, the arrival of important visitors, and the national holiday. The masks also appear at the funerals of important women, and very occasionally of men particularly associated with the dance. The final appearances of the dance are portraits of known villagers, greeted joyously, fanned and escorted to a chair where they sit briefly before departing. Most “mblo” portrait masks can be recognized by their facial features, their hairstyles, and their scarifications as depictions of known men and women. In the past, this entertainment was danced several times a month but in the second half of the twentieth century the masks were losing their cachet, appearing less often - mainly at women’s funerals.

Gabriel Viaud-Bruant was employed as veterinary in Poitiers. In 1895 he committed himself entirely to his passion, the phytology, and became author of books dealing with garden design and paintings of plants. He kept company with various artists and had a collection of works from Ribeira, Matisse and Dufy. Through art he should have got acquainted with african art pieces, like many others before him. From his death in 1948 up to 2013, his collection remained family property. The last owner was Madamae Hélene Amiault Girault, spouse of one of his grandsons (see also lots 214, 402).
A carving made by the same artist is published in Carl Einstein, Negerplastik, dated 1920.

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