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THBEarly 20th C. African Baule Wood Mask with Headdress
Lot 90
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:
$600 - $900
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Bid Increments
| 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
Feb 25, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-02-25 10:00:00
2021-02-25 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : American Frontier | Ethnographic | Tribal Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/american-frontier-ethnographic-tribal-art-6449
Featuring historical examples from the American, Spanish, and Mexican frontiers, as well as Native American, Ethnographic, Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, more. All items offered for sale have been legally acquired, are legal to sell and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Featuring historical examples from the American, Spanish, and Mexican frontiers, as well as Native American, Ethnographic, Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, more. All items offered for sale have been legally acquired, are legal to sell and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (286)
- 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 wood of a rich mocha brown hue and highly burnished. The serene countenance features slit-form eyes beneath high-arching brows, a slender nose with broad nostrils, high-set ears, full lips, and a short goatee with finely incised striation. Several incised adornments, likely representing wrinkles, face paint, or ritual scarification, adorn the face, including an ovoid outline of raised stippling that encompasses the entire visage, three starburst-like striations on either side of the mouth, two incised diagonal striations beneath the eyes, three raised lines on the outer side of each eye, and three diamond shapes between the eyes. An enormous headdress, skillfully incised to appear as ten vertically placed feathers, caps the tranquil vizard. Size: 6.75" W x 15" H (17.1 cm x 38.1 cm)
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 makes for a fabulous presentation evocative of high quality Baule artistry!
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. Given that 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.
Provenance: private Arcadia, California, USA, collection, acquired prior to 2000
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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#160958Metal wire on back for display. Some light surface wear with a few miniscule nicks and minor abraded areas as shown. Otherwise, excellent and intact with nice patina.Condition
- Shipping Info
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