Description:

West Africa, probably Baoulé people of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), ca. 18th to 19th centuries CE. This is a dark wood mask with a heavy, squared-off browline and long, also squared-off nose; there is a mouth opening on the bottom. Carved as part of the mask are two ears that give a strong simian impression. There is a line of drilled holes around the back edges of the mask; the eyes are also hollowed out. The Baoulé are one of the largest ethnic groups in coastal West Africa and they are renowned mask makers. A mask with a similar facial style is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and is believed to represent an individual. This mask seems more stylized and may have been part of a ceremony celebrating animal/human spiritual duality, a common theme in traditional West African cultures. Size: 5.25" L x 8" W x 13.5" H (13.3 cm x 20.3 cm x 34.3 cm).

Provenance: Ex-Peter Arnovick Collection, Los Altos CA

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#112134

  • Condition: Nice patina with expected surface wear. Intact and in excellent condition.

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February 16, 2016 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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