BAULE STYLE FIGURES ARCHIVES, Ivory Coast

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BAULE STYLE Figure 27 22" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 44 21" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 31 12" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 47 22" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 49 18.5" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 50 10.5" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 53 22.5" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 55 21.5" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 57 23" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 21 10.5" high SOLD

BAULE Figure 32 11" high SOLD

BAULE Figure 36 13.25" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 2 20.5" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 8 21" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 10 16.5" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 46 21.25" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 39 32" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 40 27" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 41 23" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 45 23" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 56 30.25" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 52 27.5" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Figure 54 22.5" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE MATERNITY FIGURES, Ivory Coast

BAULE STYLE Maternity 2 32" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Maternity 9 24.5" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Maternity 12 22" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Maternity 14 26" high SOLD

BAULE STYLE Maternity 15 20.25" high SOLD

BAULE, FIGURES ARCHIVES, 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).