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Old Heavy Wooden Mask Sculpture African Art Darkened Pigmented Wood, can hang

$ 95.04

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Handmade: Yes
  • Condition: 3 age cracks on back through ridge around the mask's perimeter and on the back of the headdress.
  • Provenance: Ownership History Not Available
  • Restocking Fee: No
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
  • Culture: African
  • Item must be returned within: 30 Days
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back

    Description

    This is a pigment darkened wood mask that is quite heavy and solid.  It is about 15” long and about 7” wide.  At some points on the mask, it is about 5 1/2” deep.  The mask may not be made to wear given its heaviness although there are two tiny holes at the eyes.  It appears made to hang with a ridge around the perimeter with a wire through two holes.
    The mask is a portrait of a young woman with slits for downcast eyes, a long stylized nose and small slightly open lips.  The carved eye brow area extending down and including the oval face forms a heart.  The features are slightly asymetrical.  On the high forehead is a raised bump area with three carved lines in it, suggesting scarification.  She has elaborately carved hair atop of which is a comb-like headdress that is about 4” high.  The woman in the mask has a serene look about her.  The mask is roughly carved on the back where the inside of the mask forms a bowl-like structure.
    Condition
    :  3 age cracks on back through ridge around the mask's perimeter and on the back of the headdress.
    Background:
    I bought this mask years ago at an estate auction at which a collector of African art consigned some interesting old pieces, many of which were identified as to origin.  This piece was not.  After hours of looking at numerous  wooden African masks, and reading, I concluded that this was a Baule Portrait Mask (Mblo) from the Ivory Coast.  I am definitely not an expert and am not selling this as a Baule portrait mask but I am offering my best guess which can be a starting point for research.  In any case, this is a wonderful sculptural item featuring a serene young woman.
    Important Information
    I am in the process of selling objects which I have collected over many years of attending estate auctions.  These items are mostly older collectibles and books including kitchen collectibles and cookbooks, Asian items, and many assorted items that simply need to go at this point.  I research these items and try to carefully describe them but I am no expert and mistakes can happen.  If you feel that I am in error in any way, let me know and I will correct the problem to your satisfaction.   My hope is that these objects which I have loved will find a good home with you.
    Packaging:
    My packages are as green as possible.  I try to recycle materials for packing using egg cartons, plastic containers, grocery bags and foam packaging, etc.   I welcome any packaging ideas that you have and hope that you can reuse the packaging.
    I charge
    no
    handling charges.  The postage is the published store rate of the United States Postal Service.  I try to keep the costs low but I do want to be sure the contents of the package are safe.  Packages are shipped USPS first class, priority, parcel select, or media mail.  Remember that media mail or parcel select can take as long as eight days.  Small flat items like recipes leaflets and booklets that fit in letter size envelopes or flats cannot be sent that way to take advantage of lower postage since there is no tracking and must be sent as first class packages.  Let me know if you want some other form of mail or pick up.
    Combining purchases:
    I will combine purchases if doing so results in cheaper shipping but only if I can maintain a safe, well-packed item and none of the items to be combined are  marked “Free Shipping.”   If you are purchasing multiple items, rather than paying immediately with Ebay’s initial invoices on the individual items,
    please wait
    and/or request an invoice from me.  I will calculate a combined amount based on the weight of all the items in one box, and send an invoice reflecting the combined amount.  Hopefully, this will result in savings on postage.
    Feedback:
    I will always leave feedback but not until the transaction is complete which is when I know that you have received the package or ten days have passed and I can assume that you received it or let me know otherwise.
    THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR BIDDING!