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HOME :
African & Tribal Art :
Masterpieces of African Art : Baule Bronze Mask
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Baule Bronze Mask - DA.462
Origin: Baule- Ivory Coast- Africa
Circa: 1800
AD
to 1900
AD
Dimensions:
4.5" (11.4cm) high
Collection: African Art
Style: Baule
Medium: Brass- Bronze
Condition: Extra Fine
£6,000.00
Location: UAE
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| Description |
The Baule are one of the Akan peoples. They
moved west to the Ivory Coast more than 200
years ago and adopted sculptural and masking
traditions from their neighbors, the Guro, Senufo
and Yaure peoples.
Baule portrait mask details the physical facial
features namely eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth
and eyes. In addition, the coiffure, beard, and
facial scarification compliment the physical
beauty. The scars found around the eyes and
mouth indicates human scarification during rites
of passage into adulthood. The beard Indicates
that the person is an elder, someone who has
created a family, lived a full life and one who
deserves respect that comes with age and
wisdom.
The Baule has a highly centralized government
with a king or chief at the top who inherits his
position along matrilineal lines. There are various
sub chiefs in charge of his local populations, and
all the chiefs rely on political advisors who help
in the decision making process.
This lost wax cast of a copper alloy mask (bronze
or brass) comes from the Baule people of the
Ivory Coast in West Africa. Though masks are not
normally used by the greater number of Akan
peoples including the Asante or Fante, they are
often found attached to various chiefly regalia
prominent on sword sheaths or chiefly stools.
They are said to represent the heads of defeated
enemies and are shown with some evidence of
local scarification which is rare among the Akan
but often shown on terracotta sculptures.
- (DA.462)
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