51 cm Antique Wooden Baule Mask with Double Bird | Exclusive Wall Art | Ivory Coast

Authentic Antique Baule Mask with Double Bird Headdress – 51 cm – Verified Ritual Use – Ivory Coast – ca. 1950

Specifications: H 51 × W 21 cm | Hand-carved Hardwood | Polychrome Pigments | Verified Biological Wear Patina | Original Wooden Bite Block

We proudly present an exceptionally aesthetic, characterful, and forensically verified masterpiece within the African Tribal Art section: an authentic antique hand-carved wooden Baule (Baoulé) mask featuring a monumental double bird headdress from Ivory Coast (West Africa). With an impressive height of 51 cm, this sculpture represents a substantial and high-quality eye-catcher from the mid-20th century (approx. 1940-1960). The object is in a fabulously beautiful, unrestored, and fully verified state of active use history.

Refined Baule Iconography & Polychromy

This mask stands out for its stylized facial features and brings a powerful, mystical atmosphere as exclusive wall art to any modern or high-end interior:

• Symmetrical Bird Crown: The top of the egg-shaped face is crowned with two masterfully carved birds with long, curved beaks facing each other. The outer edge of the mask features a stepped zigzag and diamond border all around, washed in with contrasting red and white-cream natural pigments.
• Serene Facial Features: The almond-shaped eyes are serenely closed like fine slits, embedded in large, light eye sockets. Between the eyebrows is a refined, incised ritual scar tattoo (scarification), characteristic of the Baule beauty ideals.

Forensic Evidence of Active Ceremonial Use

The back of the carved wooden bowl provides unfalsifiable, laboratory-worthy evidence of actual tribal use during dance ceremonies, completely free of modern export or tourist clutter:

• Intense Biological Wear Patina: The inner edges along the forehead, the The cheeks and chin display a deep, oily, and mirror-smooth polished shine. This is the direct result of prolonged human skin contact, where sweat and skin oils have been rubbed into the wood grain over generations.
• Original Mounting Features: Along the top edge are the hand-drilled bondage holes for the textile or fibrous ceremonial costume. In the center is the original, excellent wooden bite block, designed for the dancer's grip during intense ceremonies.

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