Couple of figures "asie usu" · Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3035322

Name: Couple of figures "asie usu"
SKU: 3035322
Availability: Discontinued

not available anymore

Provenance

French Private Collection, Paris

Size

H: 42 cm (male), 35 cm (female)

H: 16.5 inch (male), 13.8 inch (female)

Description

wood, blotched greyish brown patina, encrusted in some areas, aside of gender-related attributes showing nearly identical formed bodies and faces, raised scarification marks, sacrificial traces, slightly dam., cracks, minor missing parts (base of the female figure), socle;
when a pair of figures is carved together, they cannot possibly represent spirit-spouses (which are always single pieces). They are inevitably spirits of nature, called “asie usu”, which are secondary divinities whose favour is gained through statuettes. Pairs like this belong to the property of a fortune teller who has to handle them with care in order to get their support. Like single figures of this kind, they are displayed between the fortune teller and the client during a public performance. They act as intermediaries between man and bush spirits. They may intervene in a person’s life to cause madness or to confer clairvoyance.

The object Couple of figures “asie usu” with the object ID 3035322 was last part of the auction 74th tribal art auction at September 7, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 142.

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