AFRICA, CÔTE D'IVOIRE 1930 BAOULE TRIBAL MATERNITY CARVED IN WOOD
A BEAUTIFUL MATERNITY FIGURE FROM THE BAOULE PEOPLE.
EARLY 20 Th. CENTURY, Circa 1930. A LARGE SCULPTURE BY THE BAOULE (BAULE) ETHNIC PEOPLE FROM THE FRENCH IVORY COAST (CÔTE D'IVOIRE) IN AFRICA. IS A REPRESENTATION OF A SEATED MATERNITY LOOKING TO THE LEFT, HOLDING AN OFFERING VASE WITH THE LEFT HAND AND BREASTFEEDING A CHILD.
CARVED FROM ONE SOLID PIECE OF BROWN HARDWOOD. REALIZED WITH EXCEPTIONAL DETAILS; AT THE HAIR DECORATION, THE FACE EXPRESSION AND THE BACK. THE BACK IS CARVED WITH 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 BAULE 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 BAULE ARE ONE OF THE AKAN PEOPLES. THEY MOVED FROM THE WEST TO THE IVORY COAST MORE THAN 200 YEARS AGO AND ADOPTED SCULPTURAL AND MASKING TRADITIONS FROM THEIR NEIGHBORS, THE GURU, THE SENUFO AND THE YAURE PEOPLES.
THE BAULE FIGURES CAN BE AMONG THE MOST ELEGANT AND DESIGNED PIECES IN AFRICA. MANY 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.
THIS FIGURE HAVE A MEASURES OF 26 BY 8 BY 7 Inches.
IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH GREAT AGE PATINA, HAVE SOME VERY MINORS RESTORATIONS WITH NO MISSING PARTS.
THE COPY OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE RECEIPT, AS A PROVENANCE MATTER IS INCLUDED WITH THIS PIECE.
INVENTORY REF: D0000TENN/.1111
