Statue colon - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
06
days
19
hours
20
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43
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 220 - € 250
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Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 470mm
Width: 90mm
Depth: 95mm
Chips at the feet.
This polychrome wooden sculpture of 47 cm in height belongs to the famous category of colonial statues, carved here according to the stylistic codes of the Baoulé people of Ivory Coast.
Here are the details concerning its origin, stylistic specifics and traditional use:
1. Origin and Style (Baoulé "Colon" Art)
Colonial iconography: Appeared during the colonial period and developed throughout the 20th century, colonial art is characterized by the representation of attributes of Western modernity or of the colonial administration. Here, the male figure is wearing a colonial helmet (or a stylized white/cream colonial helmet) and carries pants or a uniform painted in colored pigments (blue, white and red).
Preserving the Baoulé aesthetic criteria: Despite the clothing and the European hat, the statue retains the classic canons of Baoulé traditional statuary:
An elongated face with fine features, with arched eyebrows meeting on the bridge of a straight nose.
Almond-shaped, half-closed eyes, inviting calm and interiority.
Hands positioned on either side of the navel, a ritual posture symbolizing descent and the link to the ancestors.
2. Use and Significance: Between Tradition and Modernity
Contrary to what one might think, these statues were not originally carved for colonists or tourists, but for purely internal community use:
The Husband of the Beyond (Blolo Bian): Among the Baoulé, every human being has a spiritual spouse in the invisible world (Blolo). When a man or a woman encounters difficulties (sterility, singleness, illnesses), the diviner recommends having one’s celestial spouse sculpted (Blolo Bla for the wife, Blolo Bian for the husband). In the 20th century, to translate social success, wealth or power of this beyond-spouse, sculptors began dressing it in Western fashion (uniform, suit, watch, shoes).
Sign of success and prestige: Owning a beyond-spouse represented in the features of a civil servant, a soldier or a literate man was a way to attract prestige, intellectual authority and material prosperity to the owner of the statue here on earth.
Forest spirit (Asye Usu): In rarer cases, it can represent a nature spirit. To placate him and sedentarize him on the altar of a diviner, the community offered him a "civilized" and modern image, embodying the strength of the new authority.
In summary, this 47 cm piece is a superb example of artistic syncretism, where traditional Baoulé sacred art appropriates symbols of Western authority and prestige to reinterpret the cult of spirits and ancestors.
Shipment with insurance and tracking number.
We guarantee fast and efficient delivery service.
Delivery between 1 and 3 days in France and between 3 and 5 days throughout the European Union.
Worldwide delivery with 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 de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
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
Height: 470mm
Width: 90mm
Depth: 95mm
Chips at the feet.
This polychrome wooden sculpture of 47 cm in height belongs to the famous category of colonial statues, carved here according to the stylistic codes of the Baoulé people of Ivory Coast.
Here are the details concerning its origin, stylistic specifics and traditional use:
1. Origin and Style (Baoulé "Colon" Art)
Colonial iconography: Appeared during the colonial period and developed throughout the 20th century, colonial art is characterized by the representation of attributes of Western modernity or of the colonial administration. Here, the male figure is wearing a colonial helmet (or a stylized white/cream colonial helmet) and carries pants or a uniform painted in colored pigments (blue, white and red).
Preserving the Baoulé aesthetic criteria: Despite the clothing and the European hat, the statue retains the classic canons of Baoulé traditional statuary:
An elongated face with fine features, with arched eyebrows meeting on the bridge of a straight nose.
Almond-shaped, half-closed eyes, inviting calm and interiority.
Hands positioned on either side of the navel, a ritual posture symbolizing descent and the link to the ancestors.
2. Use and Significance: Between Tradition and Modernity
Contrary to what one might think, these statues were not originally carved for colonists or tourists, but for purely internal community use:
The Husband of the Beyond (Blolo Bian): Among the Baoulé, every human being has a spiritual spouse in the invisible world (Blolo). When a man or a woman encounters difficulties (sterility, singleness, illnesses), the diviner recommends having one’s celestial spouse sculpted (Blolo Bla for the wife, Blolo Bian for the husband). In the 20th century, to translate social success, wealth or power of this beyond-spouse, sculptors began dressing it in Western fashion (uniform, suit, watch, shoes).
Sign of success and prestige: Owning a beyond-spouse represented in the features of a civil servant, a soldier or a literate man was a way to attract prestige, intellectual authority and material prosperity to the owner of the statue here on earth.
Forest spirit (Asye Usu): In rarer cases, it can represent a nature spirit. To placate him and sedentarize him on the altar of a diviner, the community offered him a "civilized" and modern image, embodying the strength of the new authority.
In summary, this 47 cm piece is a superb example of artistic syncretism, where traditional Baoulé sacred art appropriates symbols of Western authority and prestige to reinterpret the cult of spirits and ancestors.
Shipment with insurance and tracking number.
We guarantee fast and efficient delivery service.
Delivery between 1 and 3 days in France and between 3 and 5 days throughout the European Union.
Worldwide delivery with 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 de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
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
Statue colon
Ethnic group/ culture
Baule
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
