An outstanding Baule mask, of the Sakassou region ?

The Baule mask from the Sakassou region is part of the rich cultural heritage of the Baule people, one of the prominent ethnic groups in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). The Baule people are known for their sophisticated art, particularly their masks, which play important roles in religious rituals, ceremonies, and community events. The masks are often carved from wood, and the style of the Sakassou region may have specific local nuances, but they generally follow the Baule tradition.

Key Characteristics of Baule Masks:
1. Material: Most Baule masks are crafted from wood, often from hardwoods like mahogany or ebony, and are sometimes embellished with metal, beads, or pigment.
2. Carving and Design: The masks often feature smooth, oval faces with refined and idealized facial features, such as high foreheads, narrow eyes, and well-defined noses. They are typically balanced and symmetrical, reflecting the Baule's appreciation for beauty and harmony.
3. Symbolism: Baule masks are imbued with deep symbolic meaning. They are used in various contexts, such as funerary rites, initiation ceremonies, and festivals. The masks often represent spirits, ancestors, or supernatural beings. Some masks are linked to specific deities or spiritual forces and are used to invoke their presence during rituals.
4. Types of Masks: The Baule people have different types of masks for different purposes:
* Face Masks: These are the most common and are typically worn by male dancers during ceremonial performances. They may represent ancestral spirits or mythological beings.
* Helmet Masks: These masks cover the entire head and are larger in size. They are often worn by dancers who perform in masquerades and dramatic reenactments of traditional stories or histories.
* Animal Masks: Some masks represent animals, which hold symbolic significance in Baule cosmology. For example, a mask might represent a lion, which symbolizes strength or power.
5. Sakassou Region: This region, located in the center of Côte d'Ivoire, is an important area for Baule culture. The Baule people here are particularly known for their highly refined art of mask making. The Sakassou variant of Baule masks may include local stylistic differences, but the essential elements—such as the use of symmetrical designs, smooth facial features, and emphasis on spiritual symbolism—remain consistent with Baule tradition.
6. Ceremonial Use: Baule masks are often worn during important community events, including funerals, rituals, and rites of passage. They are thought to channel spiritual forces and can also be used in dances or performances to educate the community about cultural beliefs, history, and moral lessons.
The Role of Masks in Baule Society:
Masks serve not only as a medium for spiritual communication but also as tools for social cohesion. They reinforce cultural identity and the values of the Baule people, such as respect for ancestors and the importance of community rituals. Masks, therefore, carry an intrinsic social and spiritual function that connects the material world with the spiritual realm.
If you're looking for more specific details about the Sakassou variant or any particular mask, feel free to ask!

Lit. “.To articulate historians, the most consistent features of Baule art is a kind of peaceful containment. Faces tend to have downcast eyes and figures most often hold their ams against the body. […] Among their abundant art forms, the Baule people continue to place the greatest value on masks and figure sculptures, which remain the only sculptural art still widely used in Baule villages. While there is a difference between the Baule view of their objects and that of Western connoisseurs, there are points of agreement. Aesthetic appreciation is one: Baule artist, and individual owners of objects, certainly sometimes enjoy the beauty of these objects and the skill it took coproduce them. […]

Lit: Baule: African Art, Western Eyes. Susan M.Vogel 1997.

"Portrait masks embody the core Baule sculptural style that is echoed in figural sculpture and decorative arts. They also have provided Baule sculptors with their prime opportunity for artistic invention, and the corpus demonstrates enormous formal diversity. This diversity is often apparent in imaginative decorative passages extending above the face […] Such masks appeared as the final sequence of an operatic public entertainment known as Mblo. Mblo performances consist of a succession of dances that escalate in complexity and importance, culminating ultimately in tributes to the community's most distinguished member. Individuals honored in this way are depicted by a mask that is conceived of as their artistic double or namesake."
Lit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum Bulletin: Recent Acquisitions, 2004-2005 (Fall 2005), p. 47.

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Height: 41 cm
Weight: 1,5 kg incl. stand

available on www.wolfgang-jaenicke.com