Rare Baule Portrait Masks

The Baule people reside in the central region of the Ivory Coast. Baule masks, such as the two depicted here, represent specific individuals. If the masks show good-looking faces, their representatives were good people.

Conversely, masks with an evil look would represent individuals who were terrible in their lives. The Baule people commonly used red paint on their carvings, symbolizing the introduction and admiration of red cloth after colonization.

Additional Details

Dimensions: Height 20 cm Width 14 cm Depth 5 cm

Material: light wood, paint and stain

Year: first half of 20th Century

Origin: Ivory Coast