Récipient avec couvercle anthropomorphe "kwle" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Baoulé · ID: 3043186

Description

wood, insect caused damage, slight traces of usage

The Baule used these vessels to store shea butter and ointments, because they placed great value on bodily cleanliness and beauty.

The anthropomorphic heads on the lids of the containers reflect the ideals of beauty placed upon their owners: a carefully arranged hairstyle, elaborate scarification marks and a finely shining surface as a symbol of well-groomed facial skin.

Littérature comparée

Vogel, Susan Mullin, African Aesthetics, New York 1986, p. 198, ill. 149