Côte d'Ivoire AFRICAN Statue - Wood - Baoulé TRIBE - FIRST HALF OF 20 CENTURY

Description

SPOTTED DOG
DESIGN
SPOTTED DOG DESIGN
Côte d'Ivoire African statue - Baoule Tribe - Wood
Condition
Good
Dimensions
14×3×3 inches
Ethnic group/ culture
Baoule
Material
Wood
Object
Baoulé Mask
Period
1st half 20th century
Region/ country
Côte d'Ivoire
Sold with stand
No
Weight
8 oz
Condition
Good
Dimensions
14×3×3 inches
Blolo Bla (Spirit Wife Figure)
Test By: Kathryn Cua
Description
The Baule believe that, in the otherworld called Blolo, all human beings were married before birth. These spirit spouses called blolo bian, meaning 'spirit husband', and blolo bla, meaning 'spirit wife', follow them into their human lives by way of human-figure sculptures called waka sran, or 'person in wood'. Baule people carve these figures to represent their otherworld spouses and they believe that these spirits have influence over their human lives.
Spirit figures are intended to serve a single individual and have private shrines in the home dedicated to them. When a Baule person undergoes some form of distress, be it emotional, physical or spiritual, he or she might consult a komien, or diviner. Divination usually reveals that one’s spirit spouse has become jealous or angry and is the cause of such distress. Oftentimes, the proposed solution is to devote a shrine, called tata, in which the figure becomes the centre and its vengeful spirit can be appeased.
The Baule believe spirit figures can bring good fortune to all areas of life. However, it is also believed that any good fortune the owner receives reduces the amount of good fortune that’s available to everyone else. With that in mind, owners keep all personal possessions and sculptures out of sight in closed sleeping rooms. Although these figures aren’t considered to be sacred objects, they were intended to only be used and openly looked at by the individual owner. If the owner chooses to show these sculptures, surreptitious glancing, called nian klekle, is the only acceptable way for Baule people to view these sculptures when displayed as art.
Distinguishing Features
Carved from central trunk of aloma
Large head
Almond shaped or round eyes
Downward gaze
Long neck
High breasts
Pointed breasts protrude out or lay flat on chest
Some adorned with carved bracelet on left wrist
Carved keloids on stomach, chest, and/or face
Swelling curve of abdomen
Hands rest on abdomen
Some have arms placed behind back
Some have beads added to hips to support a miniature loincloth
Rounded buttocks
Ample calves
Flexed legs
Feet are flat and wide or small and pudgy
Feet always placed on a pedestal
References
1Smithsonian National Museum of African Art: Female Figure (Blolo Bla)
Bibliography
2For Spirits and Kings: African Art from the Paul and Ruth Tishman Collection: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
3Baule: African Art/Western Eyes: Susan Vogel
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UP TO 30 DAYS TO FIGURE OUT IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT, DURING THAT TIME RETURNS ARE WELCOME WITHOUT QUESTION, BUT I DO APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME KNOW IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH PHOTOS, AD, OR DESCRIPTION SO I CAN CORRECT IT ON
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COMBINED SHIPPING?
ABSOLUTELY.
PAY FOR SHIPPING ONCE, AND EVERYTHING ELSE YOU BUY IS FREE SHIPPING.
IF WE NEED ANOTHER PACKAGE YOU BOUGHT SO MUCH, I WILL PAY FOR THE NEXT ONE.
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