Description
A Baule Mask, "kplekple bla" Mask, "kplekple bla" Baule, Côte d'Ivoire Mit Sockel / with base Wood. H 89 cm. Provenance: - René and and Denise David. Acquired in situ in the 1960s. - Belgian private collection (2005-2023). This buffalo mask, called "kplekple bla", was part of the goli dance. It took place, for example, after the harvest, at receptions, at funeral ceremonies and in times of danger. In order to ward off coming misfortune, a connection was made to the supernatural powers that have a direct influence on people's lives A goli ensemble comprised three to four pairs of masks that were regarded as a family: The zoomorphic goli-glin buffalo masks (father), the anthropomorphic kpan and kpan-pre masks (mother) and the disc-shaped kple-kple masks (daughter and son). In particular, the buffalo in the goli dance was also meant to keep wild animals - such as antelopes and bush cows, which ate the grass off the roofs of the huts - away from the village. This mask impressively illustrates the aesthetic concepts that helped avant-garde artists at the beginning of the 20th century to find new paths in the language of form - in particular the simultaneous representation of Cubism. Further reading: Vogel, Susan M. (1997). Baule. New Haven: Yale University Press. CHF 10 000 / 15 000 Weight in grams: 7600 Condition: The condition (possible wear, signs of use, tears, possible other impairments and the signs of age etc.) of this lot can be seen in the photos we have uploaded for your documentation. If you have any questions about this item, please do not hesitate to contact Hammer Auctions ([email protected]). The information regarding the condition of the items provided for the convenience of interested parties is an opinion only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Hammer Auctions accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. In the rare event that the item does not match the description in the catalog, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the lot for a full refund provided they notify Hammer Auctions within 5 days of receiving the lot.
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