Standing female figure "blolo bla" · Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3039434
sold
EUR 2,400
Size
H: 23 cm
H: 9.1 inch
Description
wood, entirely covered with gold leaf, carved with delicate geometrical ornaments and scarifications, slightly dam., dark spots;
the statuette was probably originally a rich man’s spirit-spouse. On his death, it became one of the sacred inalienable heirlooms of his lineage, together with other gold objects, seats and fly whisks. Representing the spirit of the ancestors, this treasure (displayed on cloths befor being locked away in a trunk and hidden even from members of the family) is brought out only for a dignitary’s funeral.
Comparing literature
Boyer, Alain-Michel, Baule, Milan 2008, pl. 62