Standing female figure "blolo bla"

Description

wood, dark brown patina, remains of black paint (shiny and matt), white miniature glass beads, fine grooved traditional hairstyle, forming an arc from one ear to the other (explicitly named “trè ba”) with the typical pigtail at the back of the neck (“trè si kpolè), rich scarifications, fine cracks, traces of insect caused damage (underside of the base), base;
Baule woodcarvers produced these figurines for two distinct, unrelated rituals. Some figures were used by fortune-tellers as “spirit beings” (“asie usu”), while others were assigned to childless couples as “wives” (“blolo bla”) and “husbands” (“blolo bian”) from the realm of the unseen. The figurine types are almost impossible to distinguish from each other, and are termed “wooden people” (“waka sran”) by the Baule, who believe that every person has a partner who lives in the “other world”. With the help of fortune-tellers, these “blolo”-figurines can intervene in difficult situations or in crises in relationships. Such sculptures are especially useful for cases of childlessness. The infertile spouse spends several nights with a specially made figurine in order to conceive with the other spouse in a dream state. Offerings also encourage these “loved ones from the other world” to become active.