+African 1930 Cote D'Ivoire Baoule Tribal Maternity With Child Carved In Wood

Maternity sculpture figure from the Baoule people

Magnificent large sculpture of a seated maternity facing to the left, holding with the left hand an offering vase and breastfeeding a child. This tall sculpture was made in the early 20th century, circa 1930 by the Baoule ethnic tribal people from Cote D'Ivoire in Africa. 

It is carved from a single solid piece of brown hardwood, with exceptional details such; the hair decoration, the face expression and the back decorations. The back show an intricate composition of geometrical patterns, representing a forms of marks and scars characteristic from this ethnic. This figure represent a spouse from the spirit world. The Baoule people believe that every person has such a spouse. its manifest itself through a series of dreams, usually of a sexual nature, and is believed to be responsible for practical and spiritual problems that arise in the life of that individual. the figure is kept in person's entourage. 

The Baoule figures can be among the most elegant and designed pieces in Africa. Many pieces show careful execution of face and coiffure, with refined forms but not loss of expressiveness and power. The quit, dignified figures embody spirits from the other world.

Baoule Ethnic

The Baoule are Akan people and one of the largest ethnicities in Côte d'Ivoire. The Kwa family branch is a part of Niger-Congo phylum. This branch consists of around 50 different languages spoken by about 25 million people in the west coast of Africa stretching from Ivory Coast to western Nigeria. Most notably, in southeastern Ivory Coast, south Togo, south Benin, and south Ghana. The largest Kwa languages are: Ewe, Akan and Baoule. The Baoulé are traditionally farmers who live in the center of Côte d'Ivoire, in a French braid shaped region (the Baoule “V”) between the rivers Bandama and N'Zi. This area broadly encompasses the regions around the cities of Bouake and Yamoussoukro. The Baoulé have come to play a relatively important role in the recent history of the State's first President, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, was a Baoulé; additionally, since the Ivorian cocoa boom of the 1960-1970s, the Baoulé have also become one of the most widespread ethnicity throughout the country, especially in the Southern forests (the "Low Coast") where they are amongst the most numerous planters of cocoa, rubber, and coffee and sometimes seem to outnumber the local native ethnic groups.

Measurements: 660.4 mm by 203.20 mm by 177.80 mm (26 x 8 x 7 Inches).

Collateral: It is accompanied by the original purchase receipt.

Condition: The overall condition of this piece is excellent. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the wood, with minor restorations as usual. This piece has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.

INVENTORY REF: D091823TENM/.1478