A royal Baule mask, Ivory Coast, collected in the region of Beomi, natural brown to reddish patina, incl. stand. Baule masks, including those collected from the Beomi area, are central to the Mblo masquerade tradition, which celebrates admired individuals in the community. These masks are highly stylized wooden sculptures, often featuring delicate, idealized human faces with smooth surfaces, fine facial features, and sometimes scarification marks. The forms are elegant and symmetrical, reflecting Baule ideals of beauty, balance, and harmony. Some Beomi-region masks are twin masks, with two faces carved side by side. These represent complementary opposites, duality, or aspects of a person being honored. Masks may be painted or stained in red, black, or natural wood tones, each color carrying symbolic meaning: red often evokes life, vitality, or power, while black can signify ancestral authority or spiritual presence. During Mblo performances, the masks are worn by dancers who move rhythmically to drums, expressing both the social virtues and personal achievements of the person being honored. These performances are not merely theatrical—the masks are believed to mediate between the spiritual and social worlds, linking the living community with moral ideals and ancestral spirits. Baule masks from the Beomi region therefore exemplify the intersection of art, ritual, and social life, where aesthetics, cultural values, and spirituality come together in a single wooden object. CAB33259