Traditional hand-carved wooden Baule female spirit figure with heavy muscular legs, shapely calves, and elaborately braided and styled hair. This type of figure, known as 'Blolo Bla' for females are known as spirit spouses.
The Baule believe that before a person is born, they reside in another, supernatural world. In this spirit world, each person may have a spouse and children. When a person is born, they would then enter our world, leaving behind their spirit spouse and children. Spirits who are left behind can become unhappy and can cause discord in our world. To appease them, spirit spouse figures are carved so that the spirits may inhabit them and visit their spouse in this world.
This piece has an amazing patina, comes with a polished wooden base and is in excellent vintage condition. It would be suitable to stand alone or be part of a larger collection with other West African wooden carvings. Display in a study or office on a bookshelf or side table in any décor.
Place of Origin: Ivory Coast
Date of Manufacture: 1950s - 1960s
Condition: Excellent
Wear: Consistent with age. Please refer to pictures.
Dimensions:
Figure: 10.5 in. H X 2.5 in. W (hips) X 3 in. D
Wooden Base: 2.8 in. W X 2.8 in. D X 2.8 in. H
Total: 13.5 in. H
Reference:
The Smithsonian
Detroit Institute of Arts
Baule Spirit Figure: Researched and Conserved by David Wright, Missouri State University
Object Lesson: Maternity Figures in African Art, New Orleans Museum of Art
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