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THBEarly 20th C. African Baule Wood Mask
Lot 246
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$3,500 - $5,000
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| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Oct 31, 2019
Set Reminder
2019-10-31 10:00:00
2019-10-31 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-4581
Our Halloween Day auction features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe, plus fine art. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Our Halloween Day auction features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe, plus fine art. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (467)
- Lot Description
Western Africa, Cote d'Ivoire, Baule (Baoule) people, ca. early 20th century CE. A gorgeous Baule face mask of an elegant style, hand-carved from dark-brown wood. The serene countenance features slit-form eyes beneath high-arching brows, a slender nose with delineated nostrils, cupped ears, full lips with a grooved philtrum, a short goatee with finely incised striations, and three sets of eight diamonds that constitute ritual scarification marks. The tall and broad forehead is surmounted by an arching coiffure with three pleated rows on either side, a band of raised stippling on the front, and a wide lobe in the center. The verso is carved out for wear by a performer or a dancer, and three drilled strap holes on either side of the periphery enable the mask to be worn securely. Smooth patina across the obverse and verso creates for a fabulous presentation evocative of high quality Baule artistry! Size: 6.125" W x 11.4" H (15.6 cm x 29 cm); 19.875" H (50.5 cm) on included custom stand.
The Baule practice of theatrical performances and thespian-centered festivities is called the Mblo, a highly celebrated ceremony honoring upstanding or recently-deceased members of society. Primarily comprised of skits and interpretive dances, the Mblo is meant as an idealized representation of the individual being honored. The portrait masks created for the Mblo are oftentimes modeled after women due to their inherent grace and beauty as well as the entrancing way they dance. Because of how women perform in elegant, balletic styles, only the most experienced and highly-skilled dancers are allowed to don these masks.
For a stylistically similar example, please see: Bacquart, Jean-Baptiste. "The Tribal Arts of Africa: Surveying Africa's Artistic Geography." Thames & Hudson, New York, 2000, p. 49, fig. 9.
Another stylistically similar example, of a smaller size, hammered for EUR 75,000 ($82,646.25) at Sotheby's, Paris "Pierre Berge: From One Home to Another" auction (October 28-31, 2018, lot 34).
Provenance: private Honolulu, Hawaii, USA collection, acquired in 2014; ex-private Paris, France collection; ex-private Nice, France collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
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#149076Minor nicks and stable fissures to goatee, peripheries, and verso, with light softening to some finer details on eyebrows and coiffure, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits within verso, and beautiful patina throughout.Condition
- Shipping Info
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