Moon mask with figural crest ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3034286

Description

wood, rich reddish- and honey brown patina, a vaulted round face, with symmetrical facial features concentrated on a narrow area, framed by a disc-shaped rim with zigzag-contour, on top of two struts crowned by a sitting figure in colon style, shown in profile, sitting in a boat, slightly dam., fine cracks (chin), water spots (figure), minor missing parts at the back of the rim, metal socle;
rather uncommon, rare mask type !
Certain Baule villages sometimes have masks (nowadays painted in bright colours) relating to the spirits of nature, the sun or the moon, which appear at the opening of a festival (“gbagba”, “adjusu”, “adiemele” etc.) - while among the neighbouring Yaure the “moon” mask is thoroughly sacred. The Baules “moon” masks dance just a little to “warm the dance place” for the arrival of more important masks and then depart.

The object Moon mask with figural crest with the object ID 3034286 was last part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction at March 9, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 287.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.

Comparing literature

Vogel, Susan Mullin, Baule - African Art - Western Eyes, New York 1997, p. 160 f.