Lot 47B
West Africa, Ivory Coast, Baule or Guro culture, ca. early 20th century CE. A refined and spiritually resonant carved wood face mask from the Baule or Guro peoples of central Ivory Coast, this early 20th century example features an elegant trio of arched horns that curve inward toward the face, forming a dramatic, almost architectural silhouette. The serene facial plane is almond-shaped and symmetrical, with delicate closed eyes beneath gracefully arched brows, a fine ridged nose, and a pursed projecting mouth. Traces of scarification motifs decorate the cheeks and brow, while the beard is edged with a finely notched border. The inward-curving horns - two sweeping from the sides and one rising from the center - suggest power turned inward, a controlled and centered spiritual energy that links the mask-wearer to ancestral forces. Such masks were typically danced during masquerade ceremonies tied to initiation rites, funerals, and festivals celebrating harvest or communal renewal. Size: 6" L x 6.8" W x 12.2" H (15.2 cm x 17.3 cm x 31 cm)
The triangular and lattice-carved coiffure panels reinforce associations with prestige, while the openwork and drilled borders allowed for elaborate costuming in raffia, textile, or fiber. As a whole, the mask presents a balance of human beauty and spiritual force - its role not merely decorative but deeply performative, embodying spirits of the bush that protect, guide, or challenge the community. With its harmonious form, richly textured surfaces, and distinctive horned profile, this piece stands as a masterwork of Baule or Guro masquerade aesthetics.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired in 2010 via descent; ex-private collection of Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, purchased in April 2004; ex-Taylor "Tad" Dale, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; ex-John Wajzner, Newcastle, England, UK, acquired at antique fair in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
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#196115
- Condition: Two areas of loss on face and one on verso of proper right horn due to old, inactive insect damage. Some stable fissures to wood
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