Spinner pulley - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire

Figurative heddle pulley Baoulé – Ivory Coast

An interesting figurative heddle pulley attributed to the Baoulé tradition of Ivory Coast, carved in wood and originally conceived as a functional element of traditional narrow-band looms.

The piece features a marked anthropomorphic representation, with a long face of serene expression, half-closed eyes, stylized nose and various incised motifs on the face and forehead. Especially notable is the large striped hairstyle or headdress, with a strong sculptural presence, as well as the triangular geometric decoration on the lower part.

The wood retains an attractive dark patina with reddish-brown hues, along with wear, small irregularities and traces typical of an artisan-crafted piece.

The Baoulé heddle pulleys constitute an interesting example of the fusion between everyday object and artistic expression: a practical loom component could be transformed by the sculptor into a small figurative work, decorated with human heads, figures and geometric motifs.

Pieces related to this typology are documented in major international collections, among them the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University.

Provenance: former private collection of Raquel Montagut.

Currently it is presented on a discreet metal base, which allows the piece to be appreciated as a sculpture from all angles.

Comparative documentation with museum references is attached.

The cultural attribution is made by typological and stylistic comparison with documented specimens.