Portrait mask "ndoma" of the "mblo" group ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3052903

Description

wood, pigments, decorative nails,

Portrait masks and their dancers imitate the behaviour of a particular person they represent. Important members of the community are honoured, caricatured or even criticised in this way. “Mblo” masks are considered to be, in a sense, an “artistic double” of the person depicted. Masks that are carved in the likeness of a woman are called “ndoma”.