Standing male figure "asie usu", end of 19th / beginning 20th century · Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3048449
Adrian Schlag, Brussels, Belgium
Dutch Private Collection
Description
wood, kaolin, glass beads, cord, missing parts, base
This figure shows signs of sacrificial materials and is covered in large parts with kaolin, an expression of the great spirituality of the figure.
It is believed that bush spirits reside in “asie usu” figures. They were used by the diviners “komien” in fortune-telling sessions.
The “asie usu” help him to form a link between the physical world and the spiritual. To understand the cause of problems or misfortunes faced by clients, the “komien” places an “asie usu” figure between himself and the client. Through incantations, the “komien” becomes possessed by the spirit residing in the figure, and this trance makes it clear to the diviner what the issues are, how they can be solved and what the future holds for his client.
The object Standing male figure “asie usu”, end of 19th / beginning 20th century with the object ID 3048449 was last part of the auction 97th Auction at November 6, 2021 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 162 achieved a sales price of EUR 4,100.
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Expertise
Adrian Schlag, 20 May 2018, Brussels, Belgium
Publications
AHDRC: 0181800