Maternity statue - Attié - Côte d'Ivoire
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Estimate € 280 - € 330
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Wooden maternité statue from Côte d'Ivoire by the Attié (Atyé) people, 56 cm high, in good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood and cord
Height: 560 mm
Width: 135 mm
Depth: 130 mm
This wooden sculpture, standing 56 cm tall, is a remarkable representation of maternity, originating from the Atyé (or Attié) linguistic and cultural group, a people of the lagoon belonging to the Akan family, located in the southeast of Ivory Coast.
Here is the detailed analysis of its origin, its particular visual codes, and its ritual uses, with no mention of file names.
1. Origin and Stylistic Features
The Atyé statue style is distinguished by vigorous geometric forms, joints that are often spherical, and meticulously crafted hairstyles, tending toward a more robust stylization than that of their Baoulé neighbors.
The Lobed Bowl Hairstyle: The head of the main figure bears a monumental coiffure divided into imposing bulbous lobes, finely squared to imitate tight braids or plaits. This meticulous work extends across the entire back half of the skull. Such a coiffure is a strong marker of social prestige, elegance, and high rank within the community.
The Unique Iconography of Maternity: Unlike classic representations where the child is cradled on the knees or simply positioned on the back in a conventional manner, the child in this Atyé statue adopts a dynamic and singular posture. He is literally grasping the back of his mother’s torso. His long arms encircle the female figure’s waist (his hands distinctly joining over the maternal belly), while his voluminous thighs and legs firmly surround the mother’s buttocks and the upper thighs. The child himself wears a miniature replica of his mother’s grid-like coiffure.
Morphology and Bodily Marks: The statue features an elongated torso with conical, firm breasts, symbols of youth and fertility. The navel is prominent, a trait frequently associated with lineage and the umbilical cord linking generations. Metallic inserts or nail traces (visible on the neck and sides) suggest indigenous repairs or the ancient fixation of ritual ornaments. The legs are structured around massive spherical volumes at the level of the calves and thighs, anchoring the statue firmly to its rectangular base.
2. Functional and Ritual Use
Among the Atyé, the female anthropomorphic statues of this importance had sacred and protective functions defined as follows:
A. Prestige Sculpture and Fertility Cults
The maternity figure is intimately linked to ancestor worship and the perpetuation of the clan.
Such a statue served as an intercessor with spiritual forces to grant fertility to the women of the community and ensure the survival of children, in a region where infant mortality was historically high.
It could belong to family shrines or to divination societies, where it received anointings (palm oil, kaolin) to reactivate its protective power.
B. Representations of the Spirit of the Beyond
Similarly to other Akan peoples, the Atyé believed in spiritual partners of the afterlife.
A woman or a man could be prescribed by a diviner to create a sculpted effigy embodying their alter ego or partner from the invisible world.
When the effigy adopted the traits of a maternity with complex adornments (elaborate coiffure, scarifications), it honored the spirit by lending it the ideal status of a accomplished and respected mother, thus guaranteeing peace and prosperity to the devotee on the earthly plane.
In summary
This 56 cm Atyé maternity commands attention with the boldness of its composition, notably the way the child’s body merges with the mother’s back. Combining the geometric rigor of the limbs with the textile delicacy of the coiffure, it remains an exceptional testament to the lagoon statuary of Ivory Coast.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide by Colissimo international.
We speak english
Mask african art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Art of African statues arte delle statue africane African mask art
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateIvory Coast
Baoulé
Wood and cord
Height: 560 mm
Width: 135 mm
Depth: 130 mm
This wooden sculpture, standing 56 cm tall, is a remarkable representation of maternity, originating from the Atyé (or Attié) linguistic and cultural group, a people of the lagoon belonging to the Akan family, located in the southeast of Ivory Coast.
Here is the detailed analysis of its origin, its particular visual codes, and its ritual uses, with no mention of file names.
1. Origin and Stylistic Features
The Atyé statue style is distinguished by vigorous geometric forms, joints that are often spherical, and meticulously crafted hairstyles, tending toward a more robust stylization than that of their Baoulé neighbors.
The Lobed Bowl Hairstyle: The head of the main figure bears a monumental coiffure divided into imposing bulbous lobes, finely squared to imitate tight braids or plaits. This meticulous work extends across the entire back half of the skull. Such a coiffure is a strong marker of social prestige, elegance, and high rank within the community.
The Unique Iconography of Maternity: Unlike classic representations where the child is cradled on the knees or simply positioned on the back in a conventional manner, the child in this Atyé statue adopts a dynamic and singular posture. He is literally grasping the back of his mother’s torso. His long arms encircle the female figure’s waist (his hands distinctly joining over the maternal belly), while his voluminous thighs and legs firmly surround the mother’s buttocks and the upper thighs. The child himself wears a miniature replica of his mother’s grid-like coiffure.
Morphology and Bodily Marks: The statue features an elongated torso with conical, firm breasts, symbols of youth and fertility. The navel is prominent, a trait frequently associated with lineage and the umbilical cord linking generations. Metallic inserts or nail traces (visible on the neck and sides) suggest indigenous repairs or the ancient fixation of ritual ornaments. The legs are structured around massive spherical volumes at the level of the calves and thighs, anchoring the statue firmly to its rectangular base.
2. Functional and Ritual Use
Among the Atyé, the female anthropomorphic statues of this importance had sacred and protective functions defined as follows:
A. Prestige Sculpture and Fertility Cults
The maternity figure is intimately linked to ancestor worship and the perpetuation of the clan.
Such a statue served as an intercessor with spiritual forces to grant fertility to the women of the community and ensure the survival of children, in a region where infant mortality was historically high.
It could belong to family shrines or to divination societies, where it received anointings (palm oil, kaolin) to reactivate its protective power.
B. Representations of the Spirit of the Beyond
Similarly to other Akan peoples, the Atyé believed in spiritual partners of the afterlife.
A woman or a man could be prescribed by a diviner to create a sculpted effigy embodying their alter ego or partner from the invisible world.
When the effigy adopted the traits of a maternity with complex adornments (elaborate coiffure, scarifications), it honored the spirit by lending it the ideal status of a accomplished and respected mother, thus guaranteeing peace and prosperity to the devotee on the earthly plane.
In summary
This 56 cm Atyé maternity commands attention with the boldness of its composition, notably the way the child’s body merges with the mother’s back. Combining the geometric rigor of the limbs with the textile delicacy of the coiffure, it remains an exceptional testament to the lagoon statuary of Ivory Coast.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in France within 1 to 3 days by Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide by Colissimo international.
We speak english
Mask african art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Art of African statues arte delle statue africane African mask art
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Indigenous object name
Maternity statue
Ethnic group/ culture
Attié
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
