Yaure mask, Bouaflé region, Zagota village, Ivory Coast. Incl stand. The mask features a face with a very pure oval shape, elongated downwards. The almond-shaped, half-closed eyes are accentuated by heavy eyelids and surmounted by fine, sculpted brow ridges that meet to form a long, straight nasal bridge. The mouth is small, delicately projected forward in a serene and introspective expression. The hair is divided into several textured sections by fine parallel incisions imitating braids. It is masterfully surmounted by three stylized points or horns, curved forwards and decorated with interlocking chevron geometric patterns. This superstructure gives the mask a strong verticality and a slender, dynamic appearance. The lower contour of the face is emphasized by a frieze or collar delicately serrated with a sawtooth pattern, a typical and essential stylistic marker of Yaouré statuary and face masks. The meticulous finish testifies to long ritual use and painstaking handling that accentuates the interplay of light and shadow on the forms. In Yaure society, masks like the "Masque de réjouissances" are more than artistic expressions; they are sacred objects used in various ceremonies. These masks often appear during festive events, such as dances and agricultural celebrations, serving to honor spirits and maintain social cohesion. They are believed to embody protective spirits or represent ancestral forces, playing a role in rituals that seek to ensure community prosperity and fertility. Auction results: Yaure mask, Lempertz, Sothe bys, Christies, Doro theum, The Yaure (also Yohure) are geographically and linguistically situated between the Baule, an Akan language group to the east, and the Guro and Gban (Gagu), southern Mande-speaking peoples to the west. Depending upon their proximity to these neighbors, the inhabitants of Yaure villages are either primarily Baule or Mande speaking. The style of their masks reflects artistic borrowings and influences in the region. For example, the characteristic zigzag beard and scalloped hairline that appear on Baule masks are also found on masks from both the Baule and Guro.