BAULE FEMALE FIGURES, Ivory Coast

BAULE
Figure 51
10.5" high
$400


The Baule figure above has been vettted as being authentic with signs of tribal use and age.

BAULE STYLE FEMALE FIGURES, Ivory Coast

Despite their appearance, the Baule figures below show no evidence of age or use and were probably made to be sold.



BAULE STYLE
Figure 5
16.5 " high
$400



BAULE STYLE
Maternity Figure 6
22" high
SOLD

BAULE STYLE
Figure 1
13" high
SOLD

BAULE STYLE
Figure 42
22" high
$600

BAULE STYLE
Figure 43

19.5" high
$500

BAULE STYLE
Figure 48
17.5" high
SOLD

Photographs © Tim Hamill

BAULE, FIGURES, Ivory Coast

The Baule are one of the Akan peoples. They moved west to the Ivory Coast more than 200 years ago and adopted sculptural and masking traditions from their neighbors, the Guro, Senufo and Yaure peoples.

Baule figures can be among the most elegant and designed pieces in Africa. Many show careful execution of face, coiffure and scarification details, with refined forms but no loss of expressiveness and power. The quiet, dignified figures embody spirits from the other world. They functioned as the home of a spirit to whom sacrifices were made and had to be placated with care. Asye usu figures were the abode of spirits associated with diviners. In ritual performances the spirit would come out to possess the diviner, causing a trance. The display of the figures would enhance and support the ensuing dance.

Small figures include the roughly carved bo usu that helped with hunting. .

The more refined blolo bla (spirit wife) and blolo bian (spirit husband) figures, if well taken care of, helped their human partners in all areas of life.

We recommend Baule: African Art Western Eyes by Susan M. Vogel (Yale).

 

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