Baule bronze mask, Bouaké region, Ivory Coast. Incl stand. This small bronze mask depicts an oval-shaped human face. The eyes are narrow and open, the nose is long and straight, the cheeks are full, and the mouth is small, with well-defined lips. Three small marks appear in the center of the forehead. The headdress, tall and rounded, is covered with fine parallel lines and ends in a suspension ring. Around the face, a decorative border forms several spirals. The metal has a brown, golden, and slightly greenish patina, with signs of wear. In Baoulé aesthetics, the symmetry of the face, the neat hairstyle, and the calm expression evoke a beautiful, dignified, and self-possessed person. The marks on the forehead and the patterns around the face may resemble scarifications, jewelry, or symbols of prestige. The back is hollow, and the eye openings go all the way through. Its small size and rings suggest that it could have been suspended, worn, or attached to another object, rather than placed directly in front of the face like a large dance mask. reference literature (selection) Vogel, Susan Mullin. Baule: African Art, Western Eyes. Yale University Press, 1997. Abiodun, Rowland. Yoruba Art and Language: Seeking the African in African Art. Cambridge University Press, 2014. Ross, Doran H. Elephant: The Animal and Its Ivory in African Culture. Fowler Museum, 1992. The Bouaké region, centered around the city of Bouaké, is located in central Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and serves as a cultural, economic, and historical crossroads within the country. As the second-largest city in Côte d’Ivoire (after Abidjan), Bouaké is a significant urban center in the Gbêkê Region, part of the Vallée du Bandama District. Its central location has made it a major hub for trade, transportation, and cultural exchange, linking the northern savannah zones with the southern forest regions. In and around Bouaké, Baule artisans continue traditional practices of crafting bronze figures, wooden masks, and statues used in divination, ancestral worship, and spirit spouse rituals (blolo bla and blolo bian). These arts are not merely decorative; they play active roles in the Baule cosmology, which emphasizes harmony between the physical and spiritual worlds. Bouaké’s artisan markets are among the most vibrant in the country, with workshops producing both ceremonial objects for local use and artworks for international collectors. Traditional lost-wax bronze casting is still practiced in small-scale foundries, a testament to the enduring technical knowledge passed down through generations. Some of the information is generated by artificial intelligence and is based on published sources from the fields of ethnography, archaeology, and art history. Informant: Bakari Inv. No. M/A/Z/1/8/4/1/3/// 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.