38" Tall African Baule Mask on Stand

Details

Description

A calm carved face with almond eyes and fine cheek marks wears a crown topped by a seated figure with … Read more A calm carved face with almond eyes and fine cheek marks wears a crown topped by a seated figure with outstretched arms, and below the chin a chain of heavy wooden links drops nearly to the base. This vintage Baule carved wood mask from Côte d'Ivoire reads as one tall, narrow line, with the weathered gray-brown wood showing its grain and the soft wear of years of handling. The Baule are known for composed, finely finished faces, and masks like this were made for ceremonies that dramatize village life, with the linked chain carved as part of the piece.

It comes custom mounted on a black metal stand, so it stands on its own at 38 inches tall with a footprint of only 7 inches square. That slim shape suits a narrow console, an entry table, a bookshelf end or the corner of a room, where the vertical line of the chain draws the eye upward to the crowned head.

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