Ceremonial mask of the Jé - Yaure - Côte d'Ivoire
01
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16
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Current bid
€ 33
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
 | €33 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €25 |
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Masque de cérémonie du Jé, a wooden mask from the Yaouré people of Côte d'Ivoire, measuring 405 mm high, 160 mm wide and 115 mm deep, in good condition and sold without a stand.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Côte d'Ivoire
Yaouré
Wood
Height: 405mm
Width: 160mm
Depth: 115mm
This wooden mask comes from the Yaouré (or Yaure) people of Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa).
Although often linked to Baoulé art due to close geographical proximity and aesthetic affinities, it bears the very refined and specific graphical markers of the Yaouré ethnicity.
1. Stylistic and Aesthetic Characteristics
This piece is a remarkable example of the balance and plastic delicacy characteristic of sculptors from this region:
• The sawtooth border: The most typified Yaouré feature is the geometric frieze of small triangles (or zigzags) incised to delicately frame the entire contour of the face, marking the boundary between the mask and the fiber costume.
• Relieified scarifications: The forehead and temples are adorned with small circular protrusions in relief (scarifications in buttons or cheloids). There are also small parallel linear scarifications at the cheekbones and between the eyebrows.
• Facial features: Almond-shaped eyes are elongated and half-closed, topped with finely arched eyebrows that meet to draw a long, straight, and rectilinear nose. The mouth is small, projecting forward with clearly drawn fleshy lips.
• The complex coiffure: The top of the mask is dominated by an imposing and sophisticated hairstyle, divided into geometrically fine braided and striped sections, rising into a high rounded central crest that ends with a small flower or circular pompon.
• The reverse and attachment: At the rear, the piece shows a lovely internal wear patina and a deep hollow. A perforated protrusion or a tenon under the chin allowed hanging ornaments or handling the mask.
2. Use and Ritual Function: The Je ceremonies
Among the Yaouré, masks of this type are major sacred objects associated with the rituals of the mask society, called the Je (or Dje):
• Funeral rites: These anthropomorphic masks mainly appear during the funerals of notables or men of a certain social rank. Their spiritual function is to purify the village, reconcile the world of the living with that of the spirits, and accompany the deceased's soul (nyama) to the realm of the ancestors so that it does not torment its family.
• Restoration of cosmic order: Death is seen as a rupture of communal balance; the dance of the Je masks allows restoring the social and cosmic order destabilized by the loss of the deceased.
• Strict prohibition for women: These masks carry a formidable spiritual charge. When exhibited in the village square, it was once strictly forbidden for women to look at them closely or meet their gaze, under the risk of major ritual consequences (such as sterility). The dancer, entirely hidden under a costume of fabrics and fibers, performs a codified choreography to the sound of drums and sacred horns.
Packages are shipped from Monday to Saturday with insurance and a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide by Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask African art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue African art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Arte di maschere africane
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 TranslateCôte d'Ivoire
Yaouré
Wood
Height: 405mm
Width: 160mm
Depth: 115mm
This wooden mask comes from the Yaouré (or Yaure) people of Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa).
Although often linked to Baoulé art due to close geographical proximity and aesthetic affinities, it bears the very refined and specific graphical markers of the Yaouré ethnicity.
1. Stylistic and Aesthetic Characteristics
This piece is a remarkable example of the balance and plastic delicacy characteristic of sculptors from this region:
• The sawtooth border: The most typified Yaouré feature is the geometric frieze of small triangles (or zigzags) incised to delicately frame the entire contour of the face, marking the boundary between the mask and the fiber costume.
• Relieified scarifications: The forehead and temples are adorned with small circular protrusions in relief (scarifications in buttons or cheloids). There are also small parallel linear scarifications at the cheekbones and between the eyebrows.
• Facial features: Almond-shaped eyes are elongated and half-closed, topped with finely arched eyebrows that meet to draw a long, straight, and rectilinear nose. The mouth is small, projecting forward with clearly drawn fleshy lips.
• The complex coiffure: The top of the mask is dominated by an imposing and sophisticated hairstyle, divided into geometrically fine braided and striped sections, rising into a high rounded central crest that ends with a small flower or circular pompon.
• The reverse and attachment: At the rear, the piece shows a lovely internal wear patina and a deep hollow. A perforated protrusion or a tenon under the chin allowed hanging ornaments or handling the mask.
2. Use and Ritual Function: The Je ceremonies
Among the Yaouré, masks of this type are major sacred objects associated with the rituals of the mask society, called the Je (or Dje):
• Funeral rites: These anthropomorphic masks mainly appear during the funerals of notables or men of a certain social rank. Their spiritual function is to purify the village, reconcile the world of the living with that of the spirits, and accompany the deceased's soul (nyama) to the realm of the ancestors so that it does not torment its family.
• Restoration of cosmic order: Death is seen as a rupture of communal balance; the dance of the Je masks allows restoring the social and cosmic order destabilized by the loss of the deceased.
• Strict prohibition for women: These masks carry a formidable spiritual charge. When exhibited in the village square, it was once strictly forbidden for women to look at them closely or meet their gaze, under the risk of major ritual consequences (such as sterility). The dancer, entirely hidden under a costume of fabrics and fibers, performs a codified choreography to the sound of drums and sacred horns.
Packages are shipped from Monday to Saturday with insurance and a tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide by Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask African art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue African art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Arte di maschere africane
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 of the Jé
Ethnic group/ culture
Yaure
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
