Superb Yaure Mask, Côte d'Ivoire
je or lo
Wood, pokerwork
Height 13 3/4in (35.5cm)

Provenance
Merton D. Simpson Gallery, New York
Arvin Klein Collection, San Diego
Private Collection

Exhibited
Los Angeles, California, The Art of Black Africa, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1970, fig. 5 (not illustrated and incorrectly listed as Guro)

Sculpted out of a hard wood, the artist of this mask has masterfully captured the essence of the delight in beauty, sophistication and delicacy found throughout the genre of Yaure masks. The oval face is surrounded by a serrated border with a high arching finely incised horns gracefully extending above the head between leaf-shaped ears; high arching eyebrows, heavy eyelids with pierced eyes and a long straight nose, all characteristics of the style; an incised zigzag design on the forehead delineating the forehead from the coiffure; the lips protruding out in conical shape; exceptional shiny, light brown patina.

Tip of left horn broken and repaired; small chip to front of goatee; minor age distress lines, nicks, scratches and abrasions. Custom stand.