Standing female ancestor figure "blolo bla" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Baoulé · ID: 3035275

Description

wood, lusterless greyish brown patina, string with miniature glass beads, beautiful regular facial features, characterized by a calm, self-contained expression on the face, characteristic fine grooved coiffure with neck lobe, raised tattoos, missing parts through insect caused damage (bottom of the base), cracks (left side of the head, back), fine fissures (face), abrasion of paint, socle;
both hands rest on the belly near the navel, as if to draw attention to it, perhaps in reference to the Baule expression “bla yolè ngwan nyama” - “the woman holds the rope of life”.