A circular Baule Moon mask from the Ivory Coast with a face in the center; the face itself with delicate features, small pouted mouth, thin nose splitting into the arched eyebrows, and almond shaped eyes that appear to be looking down, scarification pattern below the eyes, the sides of the cheeks and the nasolabial folds; further scarification on the forehead below the intricately carved coiffure; the surface that extends beyond the face marked with fine carvings and sculpted patterns. Signs of use, brown encrusted patina. Certificate of origin and provenance. “Among the Baule peoples of Central Côte d'Ivoire, masks are divided into three distinct groups: first, the most widespread, the goli mask; then the sacred masks, bonu amuin, reserved for adult males only; and finally, entertainment masks. Moon masks such as this example fall in the last category. Together with other representations of natural phenomena such as a rainbow and the setting sun, the masks are worn to “warm the dance space” at the beginning of a sequence known as gbagba or mblo. Appearing during daytime and open to all, gbagba performances feature masked dancers who impersonate familiar subjects such as spirits of nature, animals, and human caricatures.” Source: The Met Museum, NY.