Fetish / statuette - Koulango / Akan - Côte d'Ivoire
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Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Bronze statuette titled 'Fétiche / statuette' from Côte d'Ivoire, attributed to the Koulango (Akan) culture, about 19 cm tall.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ivory Coast
Koulango / Abron / Attié?
Wood
Height: 190mm
Width: 55mm
Depth: 85mm
Weight: 1340g
1. Attribution and cultural context
This 18.5 cm statuette, originating from Ivory Coast, has characteristics compatible with the sculptural tradition of the Koulango (or Kulango) people, mainly settled in the northeast of Ivory Coast around Bouna, and also in western Ghana. The Koulango belong to an ancient cultural group that maintained close relations with the Lobi, Nafana, Lorhon, and Akan peoples. Their statuary is relatively rare and less documented than that of the Baoulé or Sénoufo, which gives it particular ethnographic interest. Attribution to this group is coherent with the general morphology of the sculpture, even if absolute certainty would require a documented provenance or field expertise.
2. Stylistic description
The sculpture depicts a female figure seated in a stable posture, legs strongly folded forward. The composition is deliberately stripped down, prioritizing essential volumes over anatomical realism. The torso is elongated, the neck is notably developed, and the head adopts a triangular shape with geometric contours. This intentional simplification is one of the characteristics of several Koulango workshops.
3. The head and the face
The head is proportionally large compared to the body. The forehead is broad and the hairstyle is indicated by a succession of fine parallel incisions. The almond-shaped, half-closed eyes express inner concentration rather than outward observation. The long, straight nose dominates a narrow face ending with a discreet mouth. The overall expression conveys calm, restraint, and self-control, qualities highly valued in representations related to the world of ancestors.
4. The neck as a symbolic element
The very elongated neck is one of the most remarkable features of this sculpture. In many West African traditions, a developed neck symbolizes nobility, dignity, and the ability to mediate between the visible world of the living and the world of ancestors or invisible powers. This anatomical exaggeration thus serves not only an aesthetic function but expresses a spiritual quality.
5. The female body
The conical breasts clearly identify an adult female figure. In Koulango iconography, as with several neighboring peoples, women frequently represent the continuity of lineage, fertility, and the prosperity of the community. The deliberately marked navel symbolically recalls the origin of life and belonging to a family lineage. The very sober treatment of the body does not aim to reproduce anatomy faithfully but to highlight the essential functions attributed to the figure.
6. The seated posture
The seated position expresses stability, authority, and permanence. Unlike figures depicted in motion, this attitude evokes a lasting presence among the living. In Koulango traditions, such a posture is compatible with a protective or commemorative function. The base formed by the folded legs also ensures excellent stability, essential for an object intended to remain on a domestic altar.
7. Probable ritual function
Given its small size, this statuette was likely intended for domestic use rather than public display. It could be kept in a family shrine or on an altar where the ancestors were honored. It could also be brought out during particular ceremonies related to household protection, births, harvests, or healing requests.
8. Support for a spiritual presence
In Koulango belief, the sculpture is not the object of veneration itself but a support enabling a link with an invisible power. The statuette could symbolically house the presence of a protective ancestor, a tutelary spirit, or a beneficial force invoked during rituals. Sacrifices, libations, or anointings laid on the sculpture reinforced this relationship between the human world and the spiritual realm.
9. Feminine symbolism
The choice of a female representation is probably linked to several complementary notions: fertility, maternal protection, generational continuity, and abundance. In many societies in this region, female figures also embody the stability of the family unit and the transmission of ancestral values.
10. Signs of use
The surface shows an irregular patina, abrasions, and deposits suggesting long use. These alterations may result from repeated handling, applications of vegetable oils, mineral powders, or other ritual substances. The even wear observed on the protruding parts appears consistent with an object that saw actual use rather than mere decorative purpose.
11. Comparison with neighboring traditions
The sculpture shares affinities with Lobi or Nafana productions, notably in the simplification of volumes and frontal presentation. However, the very flattened triangular head, the long cylindrical neck, and the relatively soft modeling of the body align more with works attributed to Koulango workshops. It also differs from Baoulé statuary, usually more naturalistic, and from Sénoufo sculptures, often more elongated and complex in construction.
12. Place in Koulango culture
Koulango statuary is less abundant than that of several neighboring peoples, which explains its relative rarity in public collections. The preserved sculptures nonetheless attest to an original artistic tradition where geometric stylization combines with a strong religious dimension. They participated in daily spiritual life by materializing the links between the living, the ancestors, and protective invisible forces.
13. State of conservation
The wear, patina, and surface deposits are consistent with significant antiquity and reinforce the object's historical interest.
Conclusion
This 18.5 cm bronze statuette can reasonably be attributed to the Koulango tradition of Ivory Coast. Its geometric style, elongated neck, streamlined face, and seated posture are compatible with a work intended for domestic cult. It likely represented a female figure endowed with a protective function related to fertility, lineage continuity, and the ancestor cult. More than a simple artistic object, it served as a mediation medium between the community of the living and the spiritual powers that watched over it.
Packages are shipped from Monday to Saturday with a tracking number.
Delivery via Chronopost between 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days throughout the European Union. Delivery for the rest of Europe and the world via Colissimo International.
We speak English.
mask African art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane African mask art
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
Koulango / Abron / Attié?
Wood
Height: 190mm
Width: 55mm
Depth: 85mm
Weight: 1340g
1. Attribution and cultural context
This 18.5 cm statuette, originating from Ivory Coast, has characteristics compatible with the sculptural tradition of the Koulango (or Kulango) people, mainly settled in the northeast of Ivory Coast around Bouna, and also in western Ghana. The Koulango belong to an ancient cultural group that maintained close relations with the Lobi, Nafana, Lorhon, and Akan peoples. Their statuary is relatively rare and less documented than that of the Baoulé or Sénoufo, which gives it particular ethnographic interest. Attribution to this group is coherent with the general morphology of the sculpture, even if absolute certainty would require a documented provenance or field expertise.
2. Stylistic description
The sculpture depicts a female figure seated in a stable posture, legs strongly folded forward. The composition is deliberately stripped down, prioritizing essential volumes over anatomical realism. The torso is elongated, the neck is notably developed, and the head adopts a triangular shape with geometric contours. This intentional simplification is one of the characteristics of several Koulango workshops.
3. The head and the face
The head is proportionally large compared to the body. The forehead is broad and the hairstyle is indicated by a succession of fine parallel incisions. The almond-shaped, half-closed eyes express inner concentration rather than outward observation. The long, straight nose dominates a narrow face ending with a discreet mouth. The overall expression conveys calm, restraint, and self-control, qualities highly valued in representations related to the world of ancestors.
4. The neck as a symbolic element
The very elongated neck is one of the most remarkable features of this sculpture. In many West African traditions, a developed neck symbolizes nobility, dignity, and the ability to mediate between the visible world of the living and the world of ancestors or invisible powers. This anatomical exaggeration thus serves not only an aesthetic function but expresses a spiritual quality.
5. The female body
The conical breasts clearly identify an adult female figure. In Koulango iconography, as with several neighboring peoples, women frequently represent the continuity of lineage, fertility, and the prosperity of the community. The deliberately marked navel symbolically recalls the origin of life and belonging to a family lineage. The very sober treatment of the body does not aim to reproduce anatomy faithfully but to highlight the essential functions attributed to the figure.
6. The seated posture
The seated position expresses stability, authority, and permanence. Unlike figures depicted in motion, this attitude evokes a lasting presence among the living. In Koulango traditions, such a posture is compatible with a protective or commemorative function. The base formed by the folded legs also ensures excellent stability, essential for an object intended to remain on a domestic altar.
7. Probable ritual function
Given its small size, this statuette was likely intended for domestic use rather than public display. It could be kept in a family shrine or on an altar where the ancestors were honored. It could also be brought out during particular ceremonies related to household protection, births, harvests, or healing requests.
8. Support for a spiritual presence
In Koulango belief, the sculpture is not the object of veneration itself but a support enabling a link with an invisible power. The statuette could symbolically house the presence of a protective ancestor, a tutelary spirit, or a beneficial force invoked during rituals. Sacrifices, libations, or anointings laid on the sculpture reinforced this relationship between the human world and the spiritual realm.
9. Feminine symbolism
The choice of a female representation is probably linked to several complementary notions: fertility, maternal protection, generational continuity, and abundance. In many societies in this region, female figures also embody the stability of the family unit and the transmission of ancestral values.
10. Signs of use
The surface shows an irregular patina, abrasions, and deposits suggesting long use. These alterations may result from repeated handling, applications of vegetable oils, mineral powders, or other ritual substances. The even wear observed on the protruding parts appears consistent with an object that saw actual use rather than mere decorative purpose.
11. Comparison with neighboring traditions
The sculpture shares affinities with Lobi or Nafana productions, notably in the simplification of volumes and frontal presentation. However, the very flattened triangular head, the long cylindrical neck, and the relatively soft modeling of the body align more with works attributed to Koulango workshops. It also differs from Baoulé statuary, usually more naturalistic, and from Sénoufo sculptures, often more elongated and complex in construction.
12. Place in Koulango culture
Koulango statuary is less abundant than that of several neighboring peoples, which explains its relative rarity in public collections. The preserved sculptures nonetheless attest to an original artistic tradition where geometric stylization combines with a strong religious dimension. They participated in daily spiritual life by materializing the links between the living, the ancestors, and protective invisible forces.
13. State of conservation
The wear, patina, and surface deposits are consistent with significant antiquity and reinforce the object's historical interest.
Conclusion
This 18.5 cm bronze statuette can reasonably be attributed to the Koulango tradition of Ivory Coast. Its geometric style, elongated neck, streamlined face, and seated posture are compatible with a work intended for domestic cult. It likely represented a female figure endowed with a protective function related to fertility, lineage continuity, and the ancestor cult. More than a simple artistic object, it served as a mediation medium between the community of the living and the spiritual powers that watched over it.
Packages are shipped from Monday to Saturday with a tracking number.
Delivery via Chronopost between 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days throughout the European Union. Delivery for the rest of Europe and the world via Colissimo International.
We speak English.
mask African art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane African mask art
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
Ethnic group/ culture
Koulango / Akan
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Bronze
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Fetish / statuette
Sold by
