Description: A beautifully and carefully carved guru (Baule) mask. A portrait of a beautiful woman which references the importance of women in Guru or Gorou (Baule ) Society. Designed as part of a Baule (Ivory Coast) theatrical tradition, known as "Mblo," that combines dramatic skits and solo dances, this mask is an idealized representation of a woman, a prominent member of the community for which it was sculpted. Its lustrous carved surfaces suggest healthy skin set off by a delicately textured coiffure and facial scarifications. Within Baule culture, Mblo portrait-masks are appreciated as the most refined and long-standing form of artistic expression. While they may depict either men or women, such works were generally commissioned by a man to honor a female relative or created by a carver in homage to a particular woman's dance skills and beauty. Because of their importance, only the best dancers are eligible to wear portrait-masks in performance. The Guro of the Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivoire) is related to the Baule, and there is a resemblance in their masks. The daily life of the Guro is dominated by secret societies, called Zuzu. Guro masks are elegant, usually long with pointed chins, and generally the most colorful of African masks. Sometimes there are burn marks on them. The mask is approximately 17 inches high and 8 inches wide and 5 inches thick Note: Pictures are an exact representations of the item.
Price: 250 USD
Location: Rockville, Maryland
End Time: 2024-02-12T18:39:44.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money back or replacement (buyer's choice)
Provenance: Collected
Country/Region of Manufacture: Côte d'Ivoire
Culture: African
Handmade: Yes
