This male Baule figure representing wisdom - originating from Béoumi and attributed to the Esankro workshop - ranks among the finest sculptures from the central Baule region of Côte d'Ivoire. The area around Béoumi is considered a historic center of Baule sculpture, where local workshop traditions converged with religious concepts regarding ancestral presence, moral authority, and spiritual wisdom. Such figures often served as cult objects within family or community shrines, embodying ideal qualities such as composure, dignity, and spiritual maturity. The standing figure is distinguished by a meticulously carved hairstyle, featuring two thimble-like braids framed by ornamental bands. Another band clearly separates the hairline from the face, accentuating its balanced symmetry. The closed eyes and gently curved lips lend the figure a contemplative expression, suggesting inner composure and wisdom. Small, knob-like protrusions between the eyebrows and at the temples recall traditional scarification patterns and signify cultural identity. Particularly striking is the long beard - braided into a single plait and extending over the chest - which serves as a symbol of age, experience, and authority. Traces of white pigment on the face and reddish coloring on the abdomen point to the figure's former ritual polychromy. The delicately carved hands rest upon the abdomen, while the figure's slightly flexed posture imparts a sense of vitality. The detailed rendering of the genital area underscores concepts of vitality and the continuity of the ancestral lineage. Signs of wear and minor cracks bear witness to the figure's long history of ritual use. Selected Bibliography Vogel, Susan Mullin: *Baule: African Art, Western Eyes*. New Haven 1997. Himmelheber, Hans: *Die Kunst der Baule*. Munich 1960. Delafosse, Maurice: Les Baoulé and les Agni de la Côte d'Ivoire. Paris 1901. Fischer, Eberhard / Homberger, Lorenz: The art of the Ivory Coast. Zurich 1979. Cole, Herbert M.: Icons: Ideals and Power in the Art of Africa. Washington D.C. 1989. Informant: Bakari M*A*Z*1*5*6*7*2* 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.