Maternité ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Baoulé · ID: 3039905

Description

wood, greyish brown patina, shiny, matt or incrusted, with regal pose and proudly raised head sitting on a stool, hairdo and tribal marks especially elaborate and fine worked, face with pleasing although slightly asymmetrical features, breasts and the act of suckling especially accentuated, free carved arms and diagonal arrangement of the child interrupting the strictly static effect of the figure, drilled hole (for insertion of magical material), old collection number handwritten on the backside: “102.38”, minor missing parts (breast tip), small traces of insect caused damage (left foot, head), old rep. (breakage: shoulder area/wrist to the right), base;
rich decor with scarification marks implies that surely a woman of high social rank is depicted, a further hint is the fact that her feet do not rest on the ground, but on a separate pedestal. Figures like the present should encourage fertility and successful births. Baule classification for sculptures such as this is “waka sran”, literally “person of wood”.This sculpture would be appreciated for its aesthetic qualities, with phrases such as “o e fe” (“it is pleasing”).

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