This Baule fertility statue from the Sakassou region in central Côte d'Ivoire belongs to a group of female cult figures that embodied concepts of fertility, prosperity, and the continuity of the ancestral line within the Baule religious worldview. Such sculptures were often kept in family shrines or served as *blolo bla* - idealized spiritual partners - whose veneration was intended to foster health, offspring, and social harmony. The Sakassou region is considered one of the historical centers of Baule culture and its highly developed tradition of sculpture. Seated on a richly ornamented stool, the figure radiates remarkable serenity and dignity. An elaborately decorated headband frames a hairstyle meticulously arranged in braids, while a small, pierced horn in the center of the forehead stands out as an unusual iconographic detail, possibly alluding to specific ritual functions or spiritual power. The closed eyes and composed mouth lend the figure a contemplative air; this inward-looking expression underscores the sculpture's spiritual nature. Finely executed, knob-like ornamentation covers the forehead, cheeks, corners of the mouth, neck, shoulders, back, and abdomen, evoking traditional scarification marks that signify cultural identity and idealized beauty. The figure’s bent arms position her hands at the tips of her breasts - a gesture that powerfully visualizes themes of motherhood, nurturing, and fertility. Multi-rowed armbands on the upper arms and wrists, along with ornamental rings below the knees, emphasize the figure's status and prestige. The lustrous patina and slight signs of wear bear witness to a long history of ritual use, lending the piece an impressive historical presence. Selected Bibliography Vogel, Susan Mullin: *Baule: African Art, Western Eyes*. New Haven 1997. Himmelheber, Hans: The Art of the Baule. Munich 1960. Delafosse, Maurice: The Baule and the Agni of the Ivory Coast. 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 MAZ16974