Maternity statue - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire
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Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Description from the seller
Côte d'Ivoire
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 480mm
Width: 130mm
Depth: 130mm
This wooden sculpture, standing 48 cm tall, is a superb representation of maternity, originating from the Baoulé people of Côte d'Ivoire. It strikingly embodies the Akan-style statuary canons, characterized by the meticulous care given to adornments, scarifications, and the balance of forms.
Here is the analysis of its origin, visual codes, and ritual functions:
1. Stylistic Characteristics and Description of the Object
Baoulé art values physical perfection as a reflection of moral beauty and spiritual maturity. This piece presents highly refined aesthetic attributes:
The Face and Hairstyle: The female figure features almond-shaped eyes finely drawn and discreet ritual incisions on the face. Her hair is sculpted into braids gathered into lobed chignons, a traditional motif that can be admired in detail from the back and in profile.
Ritual Scarifications: The statue bears rich geometric relief motifs (chel oïdes). A wide pectoral band is beautifully chiselled just above conical, firm breasts. The belly, slightly protruding around a prominent navel, is entirely covered with a grid-like network of tight scarifications. The neck, long and elegant, also presents horizontal lines and geometric scarifications at the base of the nape.
The Posture of Maternity: On the back of the main figure, a small child is depicted grasping vertically. His arms and legs firmly encircle the mother's torso and hips. The child also bears scarification motifs on the back and sports a carefully styled coiffure.
The Patina: The entire wood has a dark, smooth, and lustrous patina on the reliefs, testifying to careful handling and the repeated application of ritual oils over its historical use.
2. Functional Use and Ritual Significance
In Baoulé culture, maternity statues of this type were not mere decorative objects but carried major spiritual significance:
A. The Cult of Fertility and Lineage
These effigies were primarily used as objects of devotion for women facing difficulties conceiving or fearing for the life of their future child.
Placed on the family altar or consulted on the recommendation of a diviner (wanzan), the statue served as a bridge with the invisible world. The expectant mother cared for it (by offering symbolic food, kaolin, or oil) to win the favor of protective spirits and ensure the continuity of the lineage.
B. The Figure of the Wife in the Beyond (Blolo Bla)
In Baoulé cosmogony, every individual has a spiritual mate in the afterlife (Blolo). If this spirit proved jealous or disturbed the earthly life of its partner (causing sterility, bachelorhood, or illness), the diviner ordered the creation of a statue to embody it.
Representing the Blolo Bla in the features of an accomplished mother, adorned with the finest scarifications and a noble coiffure, allowed pleasing the spirit, calming its anger, and transforming its jealousy into a benevolent force for the earthly home.
In short
This 48 cm Baoulé sculpture is a model of balance and refinement. Through the delicacy of its chignon hairstyle, the richness of its cheloïdes, and the tenderness of its maternal posture, it remains a sacred receptacle intended to celebrate life, fertility, and the indestructible bonds between the world of the living and that of the spirits.
The items are sent with assurance and tracking number.
Fast and protected shipping. Packages are dispatched Monday through Saturday.
Delivery between 1 to 3 days in France, 2 to 5 days across Europe.
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 TranslateCôte d'Ivoire
Baoulé
Wood
Height: 480mm
Width: 130mm
Depth: 130mm
This wooden sculpture, standing 48 cm tall, is a superb representation of maternity, originating from the Baoulé people of Côte d'Ivoire. It strikingly embodies the Akan-style statuary canons, characterized by the meticulous care given to adornments, scarifications, and the balance of forms.
Here is the analysis of its origin, visual codes, and ritual functions:
1. Stylistic Characteristics and Description of the Object
Baoulé art values physical perfection as a reflection of moral beauty and spiritual maturity. This piece presents highly refined aesthetic attributes:
The Face and Hairstyle: The female figure features almond-shaped eyes finely drawn and discreet ritual incisions on the face. Her hair is sculpted into braids gathered into lobed chignons, a traditional motif that can be admired in detail from the back and in profile.
Ritual Scarifications: The statue bears rich geometric relief motifs (chel oïdes). A wide pectoral band is beautifully chiselled just above conical, firm breasts. The belly, slightly protruding around a prominent navel, is entirely covered with a grid-like network of tight scarifications. The neck, long and elegant, also presents horizontal lines and geometric scarifications at the base of the nape.
The Posture of Maternity: On the back of the main figure, a small child is depicted grasping vertically. His arms and legs firmly encircle the mother's torso and hips. The child also bears scarification motifs on the back and sports a carefully styled coiffure.
The Patina: The entire wood has a dark, smooth, and lustrous patina on the reliefs, testifying to careful handling and the repeated application of ritual oils over its historical use.
2. Functional Use and Ritual Significance
In Baoulé culture, maternity statues of this type were not mere decorative objects but carried major spiritual significance:
A. The Cult of Fertility and Lineage
These effigies were primarily used as objects of devotion for women facing difficulties conceiving or fearing for the life of their future child.
Placed on the family altar or consulted on the recommendation of a diviner (wanzan), the statue served as a bridge with the invisible world. The expectant mother cared for it (by offering symbolic food, kaolin, or oil) to win the favor of protective spirits and ensure the continuity of the lineage.
B. The Figure of the Wife in the Beyond (Blolo Bla)
In Baoulé cosmogony, every individual has a spiritual mate in the afterlife (Blolo). If this spirit proved jealous or disturbed the earthly life of its partner (causing sterility, bachelorhood, or illness), the diviner ordered the creation of a statue to embody it.
Representing the Blolo Bla in the features of an accomplished mother, adorned with the finest scarifications and a noble coiffure, allowed pleasing the spirit, calming its anger, and transforming its jealousy into a benevolent force for the earthly home.
In short
This 48 cm Baoulé sculpture is a model of balance and refinement. Through the delicacy of its chignon hairstyle, the richness of its cheloïdes, and the tenderness of its maternal posture, it remains a sacred receptacle intended to celebrate life, fertility, and the indestructible bonds between the world of the living and that of the spirits.
The items are sent with assurance and tracking number.
Fast and protected shipping. Packages are dispatched Monday through Saturday.
Delivery between 1 to 3 days in France, 2 to 5 days across Europe.
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
Baule
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Sold by
