Ceremonial mask - Yaure - Côte d'Ivoire
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Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Ceremonial wooden mask Masque de cérémonie from the Yaouré people of Côte d'Ivoire.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Yaouré
Wood
Height: 420 mm
Width: 140 mm
Depth: 125 mm
1. General identification
This 42 cm wooden mask is attributed with a good degree of confidence to the Yaouré (Yauré) artistic tradition, a Akan people established in the Bouaflé, Sinfra, and Zuénoula areas, in the center-west of Ivory Coast. It belongs to the group of anthropomorphic masks with a zoomorphic crest, whose balanced proportions, refined carving, and rich decorative motifs perfectly illustrate the Yaouré aesthetic developed from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.
This mask is distinguished by a large, curved-beak bird perched on a highly developed crest, associated with an idealized feminine face. This combination constitutes one of the most elaborate variants of Yaouré sculpture.
2. Ethnic attribution
2.1 Yaouré characteristics
Several stylistic elements support a Yaouré attribution:
The face features a very regular oval, a prominently convex forehead, almond-shaped half-closed eyes, a long straight nose, and a small, perfectly centered mouth.
The peripheral edge decorated with a sequence of engraved triangles is highly characteristic of Yaouré workshops.
Square geometric scarifications placed before the ears are also commonly observed on ancient Yaouré masks.
Finally, the presence of a large crest bearing a stylized bird is a well-documented Yaouré decorative variant.
2.2 Baoulé influences
Like many Yaouré masks, this example shows a strong Baoulé influence.
The two Akan peoples, within the broad Akan cultural area, have sculptors who shared close aesthetic canons for centuries.
The very serene face, with perfectly balanced volumes, directly recalls certain Baoulé masks while preserving decorative features specific to Yaouré.
3. Description of the face
3.1 The forehead
The forehead is particularly high and smooth.
Among the Yaouré, this part of the face represents:
• wisdom;
• intelligence;
• emotional mastery;
• inner nobility.
The slight midline ridge adorned with small discs reinforces overall symmetry.
3.2 The eyes
The eyes are very fine, almost closed.
They do not represent a human gaze but a spiritual gaze.
They symbolize:
• meditation;
• calm;
• communication with ancestors;
• clairvoyance.
The thick eyelids create a soft, sought-after effect.
3.3 The nose
The long, perfectly straight nose forms the main axis of the composition.
Among the Yaouré, this verticality represents:
• balance;
• stability;
• moral uprightness.
3.4 The mouth
The mouth is reduced to a simple horizontal incision.
It evokes:
• silence;
• restraint;
• mastery of speech.
According to Akan tradition, measured speech is one of the signs of wisdom.
4. Scarifications
4.1 Forehead scarifications
A vertical line of small discs runs through the middle of the forehead.
This pattern probably represents an ancient ritual scarification.
It symbolizes:
• identity;
• group belonging;
• ideal beauty.
4.2 Side scarifications
The small checked patterns engraved in front of the ears evoke facial scarifications once practiced by some Akan groups.
They testified to:
• social status;
• family origin;
• cultural identity.
5. Hairstyles and decorations
Several bands decorated with engraved triangles run across the upper part of the mask.
These superimposed registers probably indicate an elaborate ceremonial hairstyle.
They also reflect Yaouré taste for geometric rhythms.
The outer edge of the face, composed of a regular sequence of triangles, further emphasizes the symmetry of the whole.
6. The crest
6.1 A very developed architecture
The crest rises well above the face.
It forms a kind of large arch whose ends rise into two long points.
This architecture gives great slenderness to the sculpture.
6.2 A dynamic composition
Unlike crests that are merely decorative, this one constitutes a true sculpted scene.
The bird seems to perch delicately on the central part while maintaining remarkable balance.
This plastic search testifies to a particularly skilled sculptor.
7. The bird
7.1 Identification
The animal depicted has:
• a very long curved beak;
• an elongated body;
• slender legs.
It resembles more a stylized hornbill than a classic wader, even though the shapes remain deliberately symbolic.
Among the Yaouré, the hornbill plays an important role in religious imagination.
7.2 Symbolic value
The bird represents the messenger linking:
• humans;
• ancestors;
• invisible powers.
Because it moves between earth and sky, it also symbolizes the passage between the visible world and the spiritual world.
7.3 The beak
The very long beak directed toward the forehead is probably not a mere decorative choice.
Symbolically, it concentrates spiritual forces toward the top of the head, seat of thought and wisdom.
8. Ritual function
8.1 Public dances
This mask was mainly used during:
• major village festivities;
• community ceremonies;
• seasonal rejoicings.
The dancer then embodied a protective supernatural presence.
8.2 Funerals
Yaouré masks were also used at funerals of important figures.
They paid homage to the deceased while symbolically guiding his soul to the ancestors.
8.3 Social ceremonies
They could also accompany:
• certain initiations;
• reconciliation ceremonies;
• events aimed at restoring collective harmony.
9. Symbolic function
9.1 The embodiment of a spirit
The mask never represented an individual.
Once worn, it temporarily became the visible embodiment of a spiritual power.
9.2 Protection
Its presence was meant to:
• dispel harmful influences;
• protect the village;
• ensure prosperity;
• maintain social cohesion.
9.3 Mediation
The dancer no longer spoke in his own name.
The mask made him the mediator between:
• the living;
• the ancestors;
• the protective spirits.
10. Artistic qualities
This piece has several remarkable qualities.
10.1 Very balanced sculpture
The volumes are perfectly distributed.
The face retains a remarkable softness despite the power of the crest.
10.2 Excellent symmetry
The proportions are particularly harmonious.
The central axis is respected with great precision.
10.3 Very fine technical mastery
The sculptor achieved:
• an extremely regular polish;
• very pure lines;
• smooth transitions between different volumes.
The beak and the eyelids show an excellent command of woodwork.
11. Condition
Photographs show:
• an old brown-black patina and uniform;
• significant polish on reliefs;
• signs of wear compatible with repeated handling;
• a few small old chips on the crest and the tip of the bird;
• the bird's legs have been reattached;
• a slight retreat crack visible at the top middle of the back, due to natural wood drying with a metal staple;
• an interior showing wear.
Overall, it is in satisfactory condition.
13. Conclusion
This mask is a very fine example of Ivorian Yaouré art. It gathers the full set of characteristics sought in this tradition: an idealized feminine face with harmonious proportions, refined geometric decoration, finely executed scarifications, and a spectacular crest topped by a long-beaked bird, probably inspired by the hornbill. This iconography reflects the mask’s essential function as a mediator between people and the invisible world. Intended to accompany major community ceremonies, funerals, or certain ritual manifestations, it embodied a protective presence charged with ensuring the community’s balance. The quality of the sculpture, the fineness of the decorations, and the old patina evident on this piece make it representative of classical Yaouré tradition, evidencing the high level reached by the sculpting workshops of central-west Ivory Coast.
Packages are shipped from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery within 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateIvory Coast
Yaouré
Wood
Height: 420 mm
Width: 140 mm
Depth: 125 mm
1. General identification
This 42 cm wooden mask is attributed with a good degree of confidence to the Yaouré (Yauré) artistic tradition, a Akan people established in the Bouaflé, Sinfra, and Zuénoula areas, in the center-west of Ivory Coast. It belongs to the group of anthropomorphic masks with a zoomorphic crest, whose balanced proportions, refined carving, and rich decorative motifs perfectly illustrate the Yaouré aesthetic developed from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century.
This mask is distinguished by a large, curved-beak bird perched on a highly developed crest, associated with an idealized feminine face. This combination constitutes one of the most elaborate variants of Yaouré sculpture.
2. Ethnic attribution
2.1 Yaouré characteristics
Several stylistic elements support a Yaouré attribution:
The face features a very regular oval, a prominently convex forehead, almond-shaped half-closed eyes, a long straight nose, and a small, perfectly centered mouth.
The peripheral edge decorated with a sequence of engraved triangles is highly characteristic of Yaouré workshops.
Square geometric scarifications placed before the ears are also commonly observed on ancient Yaouré masks.
Finally, the presence of a large crest bearing a stylized bird is a well-documented Yaouré decorative variant.
2.2 Baoulé influences
Like many Yaouré masks, this example shows a strong Baoulé influence.
The two Akan peoples, within the broad Akan cultural area, have sculptors who shared close aesthetic canons for centuries.
The very serene face, with perfectly balanced volumes, directly recalls certain Baoulé masks while preserving decorative features specific to Yaouré.
3. Description of the face
3.1 The forehead
The forehead is particularly high and smooth.
Among the Yaouré, this part of the face represents:
• wisdom;
• intelligence;
• emotional mastery;
• inner nobility.
The slight midline ridge adorned with small discs reinforces overall symmetry.
3.2 The eyes
The eyes are very fine, almost closed.
They do not represent a human gaze but a spiritual gaze.
They symbolize:
• meditation;
• calm;
• communication with ancestors;
• clairvoyance.
The thick eyelids create a soft, sought-after effect.
3.3 The nose
The long, perfectly straight nose forms the main axis of the composition.
Among the Yaouré, this verticality represents:
• balance;
• stability;
• moral uprightness.
3.4 The mouth
The mouth is reduced to a simple horizontal incision.
It evokes:
• silence;
• restraint;
• mastery of speech.
According to Akan tradition, measured speech is one of the signs of wisdom.
4. Scarifications
4.1 Forehead scarifications
A vertical line of small discs runs through the middle of the forehead.
This pattern probably represents an ancient ritual scarification.
It symbolizes:
• identity;
• group belonging;
• ideal beauty.
4.2 Side scarifications
The small checked patterns engraved in front of the ears evoke facial scarifications once practiced by some Akan groups.
They testified to:
• social status;
• family origin;
• cultural identity.
5. Hairstyles and decorations
Several bands decorated with engraved triangles run across the upper part of the mask.
These superimposed registers probably indicate an elaborate ceremonial hairstyle.
They also reflect Yaouré taste for geometric rhythms.
The outer edge of the face, composed of a regular sequence of triangles, further emphasizes the symmetry of the whole.
6. The crest
6.1 A very developed architecture
The crest rises well above the face.
It forms a kind of large arch whose ends rise into two long points.
This architecture gives great slenderness to the sculpture.
6.2 A dynamic composition
Unlike crests that are merely decorative, this one constitutes a true sculpted scene.
The bird seems to perch delicately on the central part while maintaining remarkable balance.
This plastic search testifies to a particularly skilled sculptor.
7. The bird
7.1 Identification
The animal depicted has:
• a very long curved beak;
• an elongated body;
• slender legs.
It resembles more a stylized hornbill than a classic wader, even though the shapes remain deliberately symbolic.
Among the Yaouré, the hornbill plays an important role in religious imagination.
7.2 Symbolic value
The bird represents the messenger linking:
• humans;
• ancestors;
• invisible powers.
Because it moves between earth and sky, it also symbolizes the passage between the visible world and the spiritual world.
7.3 The beak
The very long beak directed toward the forehead is probably not a mere decorative choice.
Symbolically, it concentrates spiritual forces toward the top of the head, seat of thought and wisdom.
8. Ritual function
8.1 Public dances
This mask was mainly used during:
• major village festivities;
• community ceremonies;
• seasonal rejoicings.
The dancer then embodied a protective supernatural presence.
8.2 Funerals
Yaouré masks were also used at funerals of important figures.
They paid homage to the deceased while symbolically guiding his soul to the ancestors.
8.3 Social ceremonies
They could also accompany:
• certain initiations;
• reconciliation ceremonies;
• events aimed at restoring collective harmony.
9. Symbolic function
9.1 The embodiment of a spirit
The mask never represented an individual.
Once worn, it temporarily became the visible embodiment of a spiritual power.
9.2 Protection
Its presence was meant to:
• dispel harmful influences;
• protect the village;
• ensure prosperity;
• maintain social cohesion.
9.3 Mediation
The dancer no longer spoke in his own name.
The mask made him the mediator between:
• the living;
• the ancestors;
• the protective spirits.
10. Artistic qualities
This piece has several remarkable qualities.
10.1 Very balanced sculpture
The volumes are perfectly distributed.
The face retains a remarkable softness despite the power of the crest.
10.2 Excellent symmetry
The proportions are particularly harmonious.
The central axis is respected with great precision.
10.3 Very fine technical mastery
The sculptor achieved:
• an extremely regular polish;
• very pure lines;
• smooth transitions between different volumes.
The beak and the eyelids show an excellent command of woodwork.
11. Condition
Photographs show:
• an old brown-black patina and uniform;
• significant polish on reliefs;
• signs of wear compatible with repeated handling;
• a few small old chips on the crest and the tip of the bird;
• the bird's legs have been reattached;
• a slight retreat crack visible at the top middle of the back, due to natural wood drying with a metal staple;
• an interior showing wear.
Overall, it is in satisfactory condition.
13. Conclusion
This mask is a very fine example of Ivorian Yaouré art. It gathers the full set of characteristics sought in this tradition: an idealized feminine face with harmonious proportions, refined geometric decoration, finely executed scarifications, and a spectacular crest topped by a long-beaked bird, probably inspired by the hornbill. This iconography reflects the mask’s essential function as a mediator between people and the invisible world. Intended to accompany major community ceremonies, funerals, or certain ritual manifestations, it embodied a protective presence charged with ensuring the community’s balance. The quality of the sculpture, the fineness of the decorations, and the old patina evident on this piece make it representative of classical Yaouré tradition, evidencing the high level reached by the sculpting workshops of central-west Ivory Coast.
Packages are shipped from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery within 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Ceremonial mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Yaure
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
