This Toura mask from the Touba region in northwestern Côte d'Ivoire belongs to the mask-making tradition of a people whose artistic expressions reveal close ties to neighboring Dan, Wé, and Guro societies, yet who simultaneously developed a distinctive iconographic language. Toura masks appeared during initiations, funeral ceremonies, and communal rituals, embodying spiritual beings whose appearance bridges the gap between human physiognomy and supernatural presence. Incl. stand. The exceptionally elongated, narrow face is dominated by a strikingly prominent nose that serves as the vertical axis defining the entire composition. A textile headdress sits above the forehead, clearly separated from the face by a double row of cowrie shells. In many parts of West Africa, cowries were regarded as symbols of wealth, spiritual potency, and ritual authority; here, they underscore the mask's sacred character. The narrow, slit-like eyes are set beneath a strong brow ridge that flows directly into the bridge of the nose, lending the face an air of concentrated severity. The projecting, square-shaped mouth forms an open "O," potentially alluding to singing, invocation, or the voice of the spirit being represented. Additional strands of shells along the cheeks reinforce the mask's verticality and elegantly frame the face. A chin beard made of animal hair elongates the silhouette and emphasizes the spiritual dignity of the mask's appearance. The glossy patina and distinct areas of loss on the left side of the face bear witness to the object's long history of ritual use. Selected Bibliography Fischer, Eberhard / Homberger, Lorenz: *Die Kunst der Elfenbeinküste*. Zurich, 1979. Himmelheber, Hans: *Die Kunst der Elfenbeinküste*. Munich 1964. Vandenhoute, Claude: Masques and traditional societies of Côte d'Ivoire. Paris 1975. Cole, Herbert M.: Icons: Ideals and Power in the Art of Africa. Washington D.C. 1989. Kerchache, Jacques / Paudrat, Jean-Louis / Stéphan, Lucien: L’Art africain. Paris 1988. Informant: Bakari M*A*Z*1*5*7*7*0* 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.