Portrait mask "ndoma" of the "mblo" group · Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3043495
James Stephenson, New York, USA
Baron Hubert von Pantz was bon vinant and featured character in both the European and American jet set, kept acquaintances with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Coco Chanel, Clark Gable and countless other members of the glitterati and political scene. Many of these items were used as adornment for lavish parties in Mittersill and around the world.
Description
wood, reddish brown patina, black paint, white pigment, traces of indigo blue, prominent rectangular mouth opening, richly adorned with skin scarification marks, slightly dam., traces of insect caused damage, missing part and crack backside, base.
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.
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.
Publications
AHDRC: 0130227
Exhibition
San Francisco 2014