Standing female figure "asie usu" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Baoulé · ID: 3041259

Description

wood, black shiny patina, kaolin, fabric loincloth with belt from glass beads, rich sacrificial traces on the frontside of the figure, slightly dam., cracks;
because of the rich sacrificial traces most probably belonging to the figural type of “asie usu” figures. They are part of the basic equipment of “komien” (fortune-tellers), and assist them in their communication with helpful spirits. They are often displayed during sessions in which the diviner is possessed by a spirit and goes into trance. The statue has to be as attractive as possible in order to encourage the spirit to live in it.