Antique Baule Carved Face Mask with Old repaint. Height 9"Yaure people, Ivory Coast. This mask representing yu or spirit power is danced at funerals to cleanse the village after a death and to assist the spirit of the deceased to reach its resting place. Typical scarifications are present on the forehead, the bridge of the nose and on the temples. The Yaure people occupy an area between the Baule and Guru. Their masks are influenced by both neighboring cultures including the use of colored paints typical of Guru masks. The serrated border around the face is a characteristic feature of a Yaure mask. The coiffure of this mask is drawn into two equal parts the ends of which are tied into small buns that protrude on either side of the head. H9in. W5in. Wood, paint. See “The Tribal Arts of Africa” by J-B. Bacquart. 1998