Face mask of the "mblo"group · Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3033281
sold
EUR 2,500
Provenance
Bernd Muhlack, Kiel, GermanyHarald & Ursula Suhr, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada / Germany (1983)
Size
H: 25,5 cm
H: 10.0 inch
Description
wood, blackish brown patina, flat face with a multi-lobed coiffure with fine grooves and rich skin scarification marks, the virtual facial features concentrated on a rather small area, slightly dam., minor missing parts, cracks;
masks of the “mblo” group do not have any ritual meaning, they exclusively appear for entertainment. They represent beautiful women or girls from the village and have definitely portrayal character. They may as well represent men who became known for bravery or outstanding social behaviour.
Comparing literature
Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Genf, München, New York 1997, ill. 124