Maternity statue - Attié - 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
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 motherhood, originating from the Atyé (or Attié) linguistic and cultural group, a lagoon people belonging to the Akan family, located in the southeast of Ivory Coast.
Here is the detailed analysis of its origin, its distinctive visual codes, and its ritual uses, without mentioning the file names.
1. Origin and Stylistic Characteristics
The style of Atyé statues is distinguished by vigorous geometric forms, often spherical joints, and meticulously crafted coiffure details, tending toward a more robust stylization than that of their Baoulé neighbors.
The Lobed Shell Hairstyle: The head of the main figure bears a monumental coiffure divided into imposing, rounded lobes, finely grid-marked to imitate tight braids or plaits. This meticulous work extends over the entire rear 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 the classic representations where the child is cradled on the knees or simply placed on the back in a conventional manner, the child of this Atyé statue adopts a dynamic and singular posture. He is literally clutched to the back of the mother’s torso. His long arms encircle the figure of the woman’s waist (his hands distinctly meeting at the maternal belly), while his bulky thighs and legs firmly surround the mother’s buttocks and upper thighs. The child itself wears a miniature replica of his mother’s grid-work coiffure.
Morphology and Body Marks: The statue presents a slender bust 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. Metal inserts or traces of nails (visible on the neck and flanks) suggest indigenous repairs or the former attachment of ritual adornments. The legs are structured around massive spherical volumes at the level of the calves and thighs, anchoring the statue powerfully to its rectangular base.
2. Functional and Ritual Use
Among the Atyé, these important female anthropomorphic statues had well-defined sacred and protective functions:
A. Prestige Statues and Fertility Cults
The figure of maternity 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 to ensure the survival of children, in a region where infant mortality was historically high. It could belong to family sanctuaries or to divination societies, where it received blessings (palm oil, kaolin) to reactivate its protective power.
B. Representations of the Spirit of the Afterlife
Similar to other Akan peoples, the Atyé believed in spiritual partners of the beyond. A woman or a man could be advised by a diviner to create a carved effigy embodying their alter ego or partner from the invisible world. When the effigy took on the traits of a maternity with complex adornments (elaborate coiffure, scarifications), it honored the spirit by lending it the ideal status of a fulfilled and respected mother, thus ensuring peace and prosperity for the devotee on the earthly plane.
In summary
This 56 cm Atyé maternity stands out for the boldness of its composition, notably the way the child’s body forms part of 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 sculpture of Ivory Coast.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and a tracking number.
Delivery between 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo international.
We speak english
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art 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 and cord
Height: 560 mm
Width: 135 mm
Depth: 130 mm
This wooden sculpture standing 56 cm tall is a remarkable representation of motherhood, originating from the Atyé (or Attié) linguistic and cultural group, a lagoon people belonging to the Akan family, located in the southeast of Ivory Coast.
Here is the detailed analysis of its origin, its distinctive visual codes, and its ritual uses, without mentioning the file names.
1. Origin and Stylistic Characteristics
The style of Atyé statues is distinguished by vigorous geometric forms, often spherical joints, and meticulously crafted coiffure details, tending toward a more robust stylization than that of their Baoulé neighbors.
The Lobed Shell Hairstyle: The head of the main figure bears a monumental coiffure divided into imposing, rounded lobes, finely grid-marked to imitate tight braids or plaits. This meticulous work extends over the entire rear 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 the classic representations where the child is cradled on the knees or simply placed on the back in a conventional manner, the child of this Atyé statue adopts a dynamic and singular posture. He is literally clutched to the back of the mother’s torso. His long arms encircle the figure of the woman’s waist (his hands distinctly meeting at the maternal belly), while his bulky thighs and legs firmly surround the mother’s buttocks and upper thighs. The child itself wears a miniature replica of his mother’s grid-work coiffure.
Morphology and Body Marks: The statue presents a slender bust 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. Metal inserts or traces of nails (visible on the neck and flanks) suggest indigenous repairs or the former attachment of ritual adornments. The legs are structured around massive spherical volumes at the level of the calves and thighs, anchoring the statue powerfully to its rectangular base.
2. Functional and Ritual Use
Among the Atyé, these important female anthropomorphic statues had well-defined sacred and protective functions:
A. Prestige Statues and Fertility Cults
The figure of maternity 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 to ensure the survival of children, in a region where infant mortality was historically high. It could belong to family sanctuaries or to divination societies, where it received blessings (palm oil, kaolin) to reactivate its protective power.
B. Representations of the Spirit of the Afterlife
Similar to other Akan peoples, the Atyé believed in spiritual partners of the beyond. A woman or a man could be advised by a diviner to create a carved effigy embodying their alter ego or partner from the invisible world. When the effigy took on the traits of a maternity with complex adornments (elaborate coiffure, scarifications), it honored the spirit by lending it the ideal status of a fulfilled and respected mother, thus ensuring peace and prosperity for the devotee on the earthly plane.
In summary
This 56 cm Atyé maternity stands out for the boldness of its composition, notably the way the child’s body forms part of 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 sculpture of Ivory Coast.
Packages are shipped Monday through Saturday with insurance and a tracking number.
Delivery between 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery to the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo international.
We speak english
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art 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
Maternity statue
Ethnic group/ culture
Attié
Country of Origin
Côte d'Ivoire
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
