Portrait mask ndoma Baoulé Ivory Coast H: 43... Lot 47

Portrait mask ndoma Baoulé Ivory Coast H: 43 cm. Wood, kaolin Anthropozoomorphic male mask surmounted by four horns, evoking the duality of the Baule universe. The ovoid face, idealized, presents half-closed eyes, a rectilinear nose, a small mouth and a goatee extending the chin. It is adorned with raised scarification marks. The presence of the horns suggests the ambiguous relationship between man and wildlife. Ndoma masks intervene during mblo entertainment dances to close the ceremony and represent honourable characters. Replacement object, when the original was sold, harvested, stolen or destroyed, often made by the same sculptor as the original, this object served as a consultant : Jean-Pierre Lacoste