A Yaure Moon mask, with remnants of reddish pigments, incl. metal stand.

“ Mblo is a genre of popular entertainment featuring both masked and unmasked performers in a sequence of songs, dances and skits. Talented community members periodically collaborated on new, named, mblo compositions with new scripts, choreography and newly carved masks. In at least one documented mblo, titled gbagba, masks representing the moon, rainbows and other natural phenomena appeared first, warming up the audience and the performance space. Following a range of domesticated and wild animal protagonists, mblo culminated in the appearance of portrait masks representing identifiable prominent community members. Mirroring the idealized stance found in many carved Baule figures, mblo choreography typically required an upright posture, straight neck, bent knees and composed demeanor.” Source: The MET museum.

The Yaure moon mask, originating from the Yaure people of Côte d'Ivoire, represents a paramount example of West African sculptural artistry. Carved from wood, this mask typically features an oval face framed by a serrated or crenelated border, evoking the form of a lunar halo. The face exhibits highly stylized yet naturalistic traits: a narrow, elongated nose, high arched brows, almond-shaped eyes, and a small, closed mouth. These features collectively embody an idealized human visage, blending abstraction and realism.

The moon mask serves a crucial role within Yaure ritual practices, particularly in funerary and initiation ceremonies. It embodies the spiritual entity known as the Yu, which mediates between the living community and ancestral spirits. The mask's dark patina, often achieved through ritual use and polishing, reinforces its sacred status and association with the invisible spiritual realm.

Although the Yaure and Baule peoples share cultural and linguistic affinities, their masks exhibit distinctive formal and symbolic differences. Baule masks generally possess a more rounded and fuller facial structure, emphasizing gentle curves and soft features that symbolize beauty and harmony. In contrast, Yaure masks maintain a more angular and elongated aesthetic, highlighted by the characteristic serrated lunar border absent in Baule examples.

Furthermore, Baule masks are often employed in broader ceremonial contexts such as the Goli festival, involving more communal dance performances, whereas Yaure masks function predominantly in rites focusing on ancestral veneration and social regulation through secret societies.

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Height: 23 cm without stand
Weight: 1,9 kg incl. stand