Baule mask

This Baoulé mask embodying the senior male in the Goli dance, a symbol of social order. Measuring 14.5x23x31 cm and carved from natural wood, it illustrates the adoption by the Baoulé of the masking traditions of their neighbors. Its shape reflects the influence of the Guro, Senufo, and Yaure cultures. This mask, originally from Côte d'Ivoire and dating from the middle of the 20th century, represents wisdom and authority through its imposing appearance and refined details, a heritage of the Baoulé, Akan people of western