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Some of the finest gold castings from the Ivory
Coast are in the form of human heads, or more
specifically, human faces. Although they are
commonly referred to as “mask,” they have no
known association with masking traditions or
cults. These faces generally depict males with
beards and small moustaches, although they
could represent anyone, whether male or female,
beautiful or ugly. The Baule call these pendants
ngblo or stan trå, meaning, “a human head.”
Both men and women traditionally wear them as
hair ornaments or as necklaces. Occasionally,
they are still publicly displayed during special
festivals as signs of wealth and beauty. There
was no particular restriction regarding the
ownership of such ornaments. These works were
not the private regalia of the king and his loyal
followers, for they could be owned by anyone
rich enough to afford one. Such pendant heads
are said to represent “portraits” or friends and
lovers. Others are told to depict deceased
ancestors or former kings.
This gorgeous
pendant is notable both for its inherent luxury as
well as its sculptural simplicity. The face is
framed by a semicircular disk, a form said to
originate from European examples. The void
between the outer edge of the face and the inner
border of the frame is filled by a series of
spiraling circles that may suggest an elaborately
styled coiffure. Two loops holes joined to the
top of the frame would have allowed this
pendant to be worn on a necklace. The facial
features are highly abstracted. Ears and
eyebrows are represented, as are two circular
keloid scars on the cheeks. These decorative
scarifications served both as marks of prestige
and beauty. While the openwork eyes appear
first like hollow voids, the longer we gaze at this
mask, the enormous cultural significance of this
pendant becomes increasingly obvious, and we
stare not at a work of art, but a representation of
our lost friends and lovers memorialized in this
treasure of African gold.
- (FJ.6882)
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