A Bété statue, Gagnoa region, Ivory Coast. Incl. stand. An excellent anthropomorphic carved wooden sculpture featuring the stylistic traits characteristic of the Bété people’s art, particularly through its massive, compact, and geometric forms. Its head is ovoid in shape, topped by a traditional headdress carved with a central ridge flanked by fine geometric incisions. The facial features are compact and concentrated in the center of the face. The forehead is rounded and prominent. The eyes are depicted as slender, horizontal, almond-shaped slits, half-closed. A short, straight nose sits above a small, forward-projecting mouth with circular lips in relief. The imposing build features a torso that expands horizontally from extremely broad and massive shoulders. The cylindrical arms are stylized as thick, tubular segments that bend downward at right angles. The forearms feature a very pronounced bulbous swelling (cord-like), ending in square hands where the fingers are engraved with simple parallel vertical incisions. A cord made of plant fibers or worn fabric is tied around the neck, from which a small pendant or ritual amulet hangs over the chest. The abdominal motif in the center of the abdomen—a rectangular or square panel—is incised with diagonally crossing lines and adorned in its center with a circular protrusion simulating a navel or scarification. The lower body, with its bent legs, is characterized by thick, highly arched, and flexed thighs, giving the statuette a stable and dynamic posture. The massive feet rest flat on the ground, with the toes also suggested by deep, parallel vertical incisions. The eastern coast of the Ivory Coast comprises an area of lagoons, where the population is divided into twelve different language groups The cultural and stylistic unity of these people justifies grouping the, together for the purposes of this chapter. Before colonization, each village was autonomous and, when threatened, they united to form a ‘confederation’. Unusually, these people are not governed by chiefs, although a man’s social position is determined by his age.” Source: Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print. Literature: Le Corneur et Roudillon, Coll Kamer, Qualité, 1975, Berjonneau, Sonnery et allii, Chefs-d'œuvre inédits de l'Afrique noire, 1987,Rivière et Lehuard, Art Africain, 1991, Bete figures and a selection of Guro figures, The Africa albums, 1996, Boyer, Girard et Rivière, A rts premiers de Côte d'Ivoire, 1997, p. 56- Bassani, Africa. Capolavori da un continente, 2003, Falgayrettes-Leveau, Signes du corps, 2004, Bassani, Arts of Africa. 7000 ans d'art africain, 2005, Neyt, Trésors de Côte d’Ivoire, 2014, Some of the information is generated by artificial intelligence and is based on published sources from the fields of ethnography, archaeology, and art history. Informant Bakari M*A*Z*1*5*9*8*9* The seller guarantees and can prove that the object was obtained legally. The seller was informed by Catawiki that they had to provide the documentation required by the laws and regulations in their country of residence. The seller guarantees and is entitled to sell/export this object. The seller will provide all provenance information known about the object to the buyer. The seller ensures that any necessary permits are/will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer immediately about any delays in obtaining such permits.