This mask belongs to the cultural context of the Senufo people in northern Ivory Coast and adjacent regions of Mali and Burkina Faso, and is part of the Kpelié mask family. These mask types are closely associated with Poro society, an initiatory system that regulates social order, knowledge transfer, and spiritual practice. Kpelié masks embody idealized concepts of beauty, harmony, and moral balance. Incl stand. The mask is characterized by a balanced, strictly symmetrical composition. The nearly closed eyes beneath arched brows, which flow seamlessly into a long, narrow nose, convey a calm, introverted presence. The rectangular mouth is divided into a grid-like structure by prominently emphasized rows of teeth, forming a deliberate contrast to the soft lines of the upper facial features. The forehead is rhythmically articulated by a small oval protrusion and linear indentations, while additional triangular and linear motifs along the bridge of the nose and cheeks create a complex ornamental structure. A headband separates the high forehead from a continuous pattern that frames the mask. The small central crest and the cat-like ears at the sides extend the silhouette into the surrounding space. Rectangular and triangular elements with delicate ornamentation along with the sideburn-like shapes at the bottom structure the mask's periphery and suggest a coded visual language. The glossy patina and slight signs of wear indicate prolonged ritual use. In its formal balance of austerity and ornamentation, the mask embodies central aesthetic and ethical ideals of Senufo culture. Literature (selection) Glaze, Anita J.: Art and Death in a Senufo Village. Bloomington, 1981. Cole, Herbert M.: Icons: Ideals and Power in the Art of Africa. Washington, 1989. Goldwater, Robert: Senufo Sculpture from West Africa. New York, 1964. Fischer, Eberhard: African Art. Munich, 2006. CAB47476