Baule motherhood statue, Sakassou region, Ivory Coast. This mother-and-child figure from Sakassou, in the heart of the Baule region, must be understood within the context of the complex sculptural traditions of this Akan-speaking society. Sakassou is considered a historical center of political and ritual authority, where the development of elaborate figurative forms was also concentrated. Mother figures are frequently associated with notions of fertility, nurturing, and the connection between the visible and invisible worlds. The seated maternal figurine is depicted sitting cross-legged, with her legs tucked beneath her, on a small cylindrical stool or an integrated wooden base. Her thighs and calves are sculpted in a very curvaceous and vigorous manner. The mother holds an infant with both hands. The child lies diagonally across her thighs, with its head tilted upward. The woman tilts her own head slightly toward the child in a protective gesture. Unlike the elongated features typical of the Baule, the face here is very broad and spherical. The almond-shaped eyes are large, framed by heavy eyelids and finely incised eyebrows. The forehead features ritual motifs in relief (keloids) and horizontal lines. Parallel linear scarifications also mark the temples and cheeks. The head is crowned by a typical Yombe headdress (mpu), finely engraved with numerous vertical and parallel striations simulating basketwork or braided hair, delineated by a distinct frontal band. The mother has very prominent, conical, and pointed breasts, oriented forward, symbolizing nurturing fertility. Carved bracelets in relief can be seen around the biceps (upper arms). The shoulder and upper torso also bear geometric scarification motifs in relief, similar to the body adornments of the Kongo-Yombe culture. The object is carved from dense wood with a natural medium-brown hue, tending toward ochre in places. The patina is smooth on areas subject to frequent handling (the knees, skull, and back of the baby) and retains traces of duller, earthy pigments in the recesses and chiseled details. Literature (selection) Vogel, Susan Mullin: Baule: African Art, Western Eyes. New Haven, 1997. Cole, Herbert M.: Icons: Ideals and Power in the Art of Africa. Washington, 1989. Fischer, Eberhard: African Art. Munich, 2006. Some of the information is generated by artificial intelligence and is based on published sources from the fields of ethnography, archaeology, and art history. M*A*Z*1*5*1*6*6* The seller guarantees and can prove that the object was obtained legally. The seller was informed by Catawiki that they had to provide the documentation required by the laws and regulations in their country of residence. The seller guarantees and is entitled to sell/export this object. The seller will provide all provenance information known about the object to the buyer. The seller ensures that any necessary permits are/will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer immediately about any delays in obtaining such permits. Informant: Bakari