Mask Portrait Male Mblo Real

Portrait masks or “double” masks, ndomathey are supposed to be the “double” of the person whose face is represented. These masks can represent the face of a man or a woman, usually of notables and of persons important for their rank or for their wealth. They are not portraits, in the very sense of the term, because they do not have to resemble their representative, but they do reflect the most important aspects of their personality, such as a gesture, a scarification or any other representative sign. It is mainly a question of idealizing the person represented. An important feature of this type of masks is that they always try to reflect the beauty and they offer the highest purity of lines of the Baulé style. They also receive the name of masks Mblo because they participate in the dance that bears this name always appearing the last ones to close the celebration with a gold brooch. These are festive and popular dances, gbagba, designed to celebrate some beautiful women present and who are supposed to be represented by masks. And, these will be forced to offer some present to the dancer or dancer who carries it. It is one of the oldest categories of masks Baulé.

These masks sometimes offer a combination of human features with some animal decorative element such as horns or birds in the case of male masks or combs in the case of female masks. Regardless of aesthetic criteria, there is no other significance. However this mask, real or of great notability, besides the face of the main character makes a representation, on a platform, of this same character sitting on thrones or stools Akan with their two wives. These characters have a 27 The women are adorned with beads and all wear a sex cover. The face, heart-shaped, of the mask is a reflection of the purest bailew style, with a beard on the chin that some experts say would be reminiscent of the passage of the Egyptians through these lands. The rear rag helps to settle and stabilize the mask over the head, which also carries to the height of the mouth a cross stick to facilitate its grip. For this same purpose and for better attachment to the garments, numerous holes have been performed on the sides. Out-of-series mask inside the art of ballet. Dark patina.