Portrait Mask, Baoulé People, Ivory Coast

Face mask showing a face of great gentleness. It is a mblo or portrait mask. It represents a person who has contributed to the good of the community and is thus celebrated and honored through celebrations. The features are idealized to meet traditional criteria: high forehead (intelligence and spiritual openness), smooth and shiny surface (healthy person), half-closed eyelid and downward gaze (sign of respect), coquetry at the level of the scarifications and the headdress (self-respect and respect for others), etc. This example presents us with an oval and regular face. The mouth is small and discreet, the nose is long and thin. At the top of the nasal bridge start two arcs of circles marking the eyebrows. They frame long, half-closed almond-shaped eyes. The forehead is high and is topped with a magnificent headdress made of three "ogive" buns meeting at the top and ending in a ball. The face bears scarifications on the temples, the forehead and at the corner of the lips.
This portrait mask is of great delicacy and is certainly the work of a very experienced sculptor.
Baoulé people, Ivory Coast.
Brown-black lacquered wood, cracks. Patina of use. Local restoration on the back with a metal clip. Height: 29 cm
First half of the 20th century.
Provenance: Ex Norbert Boutet collection