Standing male figure "blolo bian" · Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3046817
not available anymore
Provenance
Old New York City Collection (1950s-60s)Pace Gallery, New York, USA
Size
H: 45 cm
H: 17.7 inch
Description
wood, nail, beautiful used patina, base
The Baule believe that before birth, human beings all had “blolo bla” (spirit wife) and “blolo bian” (spirit husband) spouses in the other world. Spirit spouse figures can be seen as a kind of opposite sex alter ego.
These spirits help their human partners broadly in their lives, and can spread their good will to the children or spouse of their partner.