This mask from the Sahiwa region belongs to the mask-making tradition of the Bété people in west-central Côte d’Ivoire. Bété masks rank among the most expressive works of art in West Africa, distinguished by their fusion of human and animal features. They appeared during initiation rites, funerals, and community festivals, embodying supernatural forces that provided protection, maintained social order, and acted as intermediaries between the visible and spiritual worlds. Incl stand. The sculptural composition unfolds through a complex arrangement of horns, textiles, and metal attachments. Rising above the angular, white-painted forehead are two red-pigmented horns; their tips curve toward one another, defining the mask’s monumental verticality. Behind them sits a textile superstructure that originally enclosed the dancer's head. Strands of braided fabric run down the sides, transitioning at the bottom into ornamental bands adorned with cowrie shells and numerous small bells. These form a beard-like fringe around the chin, adding an acoustic dimension to the mask during performances. Below the forehead, two black, horizontally curved horns frame the wearer's triangular eye slits. Beneath these lie narrow, relief-carved eyes, while a strikingly prominent black nose forms the central axis of the face. Another pair of horns emerges at the level of the nostrils, continuing the rhythmic repetition of the horn motifs. The closed, beak-like mouth is flanked by two red-painted, grooved horn-like forms, completing the mask's hybrid appearance. A glossy patina, fine cracking, and slight signs of wear bear witness to its ritual use and lend the object its historical authenticity. Selected Bibliography Fischer, Eberhard: Bété. Art from the Ivory Coast. Museum Rietberg, Zurich, 1980. Himmelheber, Hans: Negro Art and Negro Artists. Klinkhardt & Biermann, Braunschweig, 1960. Kerchache, Jacques; Paudrat, Jean-Louis; Stéphan, Lucien: African Art. Citadelles & Mazenod, Paris, 1988. Cole, Herbert M.: Icons: Ideals and Power in the Art of Africa. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C., 1989. Vogel, Susan Mullin (Ed.): Africa Explores: 20th Century African Art. Center for African Art, New York, 1991. Informant Bakari Bouaflé M/A/Z/1/7/4/4/8/ The seller guarantees and can prove that the object was obtained legally. The seller was informed by Catawiki that they had to provide the documentation required by the laws and regulations in their country of residence. The seller guarantees and is entitled to sell/export this object. The seller will provide all provenance information known about the object to the buyer. The seller ensures that any necessary permits are/will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer immediately about any delays in obtaining such permits.