Face mask of the "mblo"-group ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Baoulé · ID: 3035914

Description

wood, reddish brown patina, black paint, striking regular facial features, unusual: the almost naturalistic form of eyelids and philtrum, fine carved elaborate coiffure and beard, individual traits: the horn-like ornament on one side of the coiffure, a kind of wart at the root of the nose, slightly dam., old places of repair backside (cracks cramped with metal clips), a piece of wood inserted on the forehead, small traces of insect caused damage on the inside, on metal 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 final appearances of the dance are portraits of known villagers. Most “mblo” portrait masks can be recognized by their facial features, their hairstyles, and their scarifications as depictions of known men and women. In the past, this entertainment was danced several times a month but in the second half of the twentieth century the masks were losing their cachet, appearing less often - mainly at women’s funerals.