Mounted Portrait Head II

Attributed to the Baule / Yaure Tradition — Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa
A companion piece to the portrait head featured above, this carving belongs to the same rich tradition of West African figurative sculpture, where the human face was carved not as a literal likeness but as an expression of inner calm, dignity, and beauty.
Here, the face is rendered long and narrow, framed by hair lappets that flare outward like wings rather than falling straight at the sides — a variation that speaks to the individuality each carver brought to a shared artistic language. The closed eyes and unbroken brow line give the face a meditative stillness, while the strong ridge of the nose anchors the composition with quiet strength.
Time has left its mark on this piece more visibly than on others in the collection — fine cracks and a softer, weathered tone in the wood speak to years of age and handling, a reminder that every object here has lived a life long before it reached this room.
What we know: Carved from a single piece of hardwood, naturally aged patina, mounted on a fitted wooden stand.
What is estimated: The specific carver, community, and date of creation are not documented. The cultural attribution reflects close stylistic comparison to Baule and related Yaure portrait carving traditions, not confirmed provenance.
This piece was entrusted to me in the same spirit of trust as the rest of this collection, and I share it here so its story — quiet, weathered, and dignified — can continue to be told.