Standing female figure

Description

wood, slightly shiny blackish brown patina, traces of kaolin, carved with neck ornament, loincloth and thongs, fanciful coiffure in shape of six bowl-shaped lobes with ring-shaped plaits on both sides, elaborate scarifications, unusual detail: both feet rising from separate worked pedestals, slightly dam., cracks, abrasion of paint, insect caused damage (left foot?), block-like base;
Baule woodcarvers produced these figurines for two distinct, unrelated rituals. Some figures were used by fortune-tellers as “spirit beings” (“asie usu”), while others were assigned to childless couples as “wives” (“blolo bla”) and “husbands” (“blolo bian”) from the realm of the unseen. The figurine types are almost impossible to distinguish from each other, if once they have left their place of origin. Figures are generally termed “wooden people” (“waka sran”) by the Baule, who believe that every person has a partner who lives in the “other world”. With the help of fortune-tellers, these “blolo”-figurines can intervene in difficult situations or in crises in relationships. Such sculptures are especially useful for cases of childlessness. The infertile spouse spends several nights with a specially made figurine in order to conceive with the other spouse in a dream state. Offerings also encourage these “loved ones from the other world” to become active.