Exceptional Baule Mask with Birds Wood, pigments, iron repair plates, encrusted patina Height: 37 cm Provenance: Old Dutch collection, acquired in the 1980s Dating: Early–mid 20th century (ca. 1930–1950), Côte d’Ivoire. This imposing Baule mask (Mblo) is carved with the refined elegance characteristic of Baule artistry. The elongated oval face shows a serene expression, with arched brows, finely modeled almond-shaped eyes, a straight narrow nose, and a delicately incised mouth revealing teeth. The surface bears a deep, lustrous patina built up from long handling and ritual use. Above the coiffure rise two finely carved birds, symbols of mediation between the spiritual and earthly realms, and emblems of fertility, protection, and feminine beauty within Baule iconography. The surmount adds rarity and ceremonial prestige to the mask. The reverse shows extensive signs of use, including deep wear from repeated handling and the retention of the original internal wooden bite-bar, allowing the performer to grip the mask with the teeth. Unusually, the underside preserves three traditional iron repair plates affixed during its active life, testifying to the mask’s importance in the community and its continued ritual use despite age-related cracking. The combination of monumental size (37 cm), the dual bird surmount, original bite-bar, and ethnographic repairs makes this an exceptional and rare example of Baule artistry. Comparable masks with bird surmounts and authentic repairs are represented in major museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Musée du Quai Branly.