Female figure "blolo bla", 19th century · Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3053460
Starting price
EUR 3,500
Estimated price
EUR 7,000
Provenance
Dutch Private CollectionGallery Ratton-Hourdé, Paris, France
Raquel Montagut, Barcelona, Spain
Spanish Private Collection, Madrid
Gallery Montagut, Barcelona, Spain
German Private Collection
Size
H: 49 cm
H: 19.3 inch
Description
wood, pigments, white miniature beads, base
According to Baule belief, every person has a partner of the opposite sex in an “other” world. In cases of problems such as infertility, impotence or financial difficulties, a wooden figure could be carved as a dwelling place for this “otherworldly partner”. “Blolo bla” (female) and “blolo bian” (male) were usually kept on a small altar in the bedroom, received offerings, and were designed to be attractive according to Baule ideals of beauty, often with elaborate scarification.
Publications
AHDRC: 0211758