Maternité

Description

light-coloured wood, middle brown patina, remains of black paint, fine carved (facial features), provided with elaborate coiffure and abundant body ornament (skin scarification marks and bracelets), the backside only crudely carved, dam., fragmentary (cut below the knees), missing parts through insect caused damage (right side of the body, right thigh), breakage (right shoulder), paint rubbed/peeled off, fine cracks, on plate;
only a few figures of the Yaure are known, but a number of masks with great similarities to those of the Baule.
The maternity scene represents the mythical mother, controller of fecundity. This commemorative statue would have been used to honour the maternal spirit and the prosperity she brings in both funerary and fertility cults. She symbolizes the continuity of the lineage. Baule classification for sculptures such as this is “waka sran”, literally “person of wood”.