Mask - Wood - Yaure - Ivory Coast

A Yaure mask, Ivory Coast, of oval hollowed form, a pointed goatee with ornamental patterns, a protruding beak-like mouth beneath a narrow nose with slightly emphasized nostrils, framed by slanted slit eyes, square patterns beneath them, topped by arched eyebrows, zoomorphic tapering ears, scarification marks above the bridge of the nose, flanked on both sides by two Kalao (Hornbill) birds, encircled by zigzag patterns, pierced through at the rim for attachment; brown patina, traces of age, ritual use, cracks, several old authentic repairs on the two hornbills, incl. stand, provenance Amadou Bouaflé, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. "Yaure masks symbolize the 'yu' or spiritual power. (. . .) Yaure masks are worn predominantly on two occasions: the Je celebration and the Lo ceremony. The first purify the village after a death and helps the deceased's soul on its way to its final resting place. " This item is exhibited during the running Catawiki auction in the Wolfgang Jaenicke Gallery Berlin. The new owner can also pick it up personally. We look forward to your visit in our Gallery