Portrait mask "ndoma" of the "mblo" group

Description

wood, brown patina, black paint, kaolin, fine work of carving with elaborate coiffure and regular facial features, just the left eye arranged slightly asymmetrically, small ear conches, beautiful detail: eyebrows and lower eyelashes fine dashed, rich scarification marks, slightly dam., (small plaits), minor insect caused missing parts (coiffure), old rep. (vertical crack on the backside fixed by metal clamps and nails), abrasion of paint, base;
“mblo” masks are always worn by men. They perform at so-called “gbagba”- dances, serving 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. The day ends with the arrival of one or several portrait masks. Portrait masks are called “ndoma” or “double”. The word also means “namesake”, as when two people have the same name. The portraits appear one by one, each escorted by its human “double” and each greeted as honoured guest. The dancers wear beautiful cloth and carry cow-tail fly whisks, fine scarves or fresh green leaves. Most “mblo” portrait masks can be recognized by their facial features, their hairstyles, and their scarifications as depictions of known men and women.