This is the rating and price for Early 20Th C. African Baule Wood Mask W/ Figures, 1965

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 mocha-brown hue and topped with two anthropomorphic figures. Boasting a lustrous burnish, the serene visage presents two sizable, closed eyes under an arched brow, a wide nose, and raised, full lips that form a gentle smile. Lovely rows of incised hair are pulled back atop the elongated forehead and surmounted by two kneeling, nude infants who hold their hands together and look outwards. The tranquil vizard is flanked by a pair of petite ears and decorated with incised details representing ceremonial scarification, including three starburst lines of stippling at the outer corners of her eyes, a risen rectangle with five vertical striations at the center of her brow, and six squares arranged in a semi-circle around her lips. Please note that the Lucite stand is for photography purposes only. Size: 7.5 W x 14.125 H (19 cm x 35.9 cm) The Baule practice of theatrical performance 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. Provenance: private Englewood, Colorado, USA collection, ex-Martin Boxer collection, ex-Komer Gallery, New York, New York, USA circa 1965 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. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #160615
Price: 684.75 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 800 USD-1200 USD It's free to register now to view!

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