Portrait Mask - Baule People - Ivory Coast -SOLD

Price: $0.00


 


In central Ivory Coast, considerable stylistic and cultural overlap exists between the Baule and Guro, making it difficult to distinguish between their masks. From time to time, dance competitions are held between neighboring villages at which these masks perform. Such masquerades in various forms are popular entertainment in central Ivory Coast. The masks allow a closer contact with the supernatural world. Zoomorphic elements (horns, birds, etc.) identify a mask as that of a mythological being, while the faces are "portraits" representing individuals who embody an ideal in their culture. Although portrait masks depict a person in his or her prime, their performance suggests a dignified elder. the Baule gba gba masks are used at the funerals of women during the harvest season. It celebrates beauty and age, hence its refined features. 16"H (19.5" on stand) x 7"W x 6"D