Blolo Bla Figure, Baule Culture, - 小雕像 - Baule - 非洲 (沒有保留價)

seated Female Blolo Bla Figure, Baule Culture, Côte d’Ivoire, Mid 20th Century

Traditional wooden sculpture attributed to the Baule people, Côte d’Ivoire, mid 20th century.

Carved from hardwood and depicted seated on an integrated stool, the figure presents the elongated proportions, high forehead, refined facial modelling and composed expression characteristic of Baule aesthetics. The elaborate headdress, covered with textile, glass trade beads and cowrie shells, reinforces its status-related symbolism.

Function: In Baule belief systems, such figures represent Blolo Bla, the “spirit wife” residing in the otherworld. They were commissioned following divination and served as a material embodiment of the invisible spouse. The owner maintained the figure through offerings, washing and adornment in order to secure harmony, fertility, prosperity and personal stability.

Material: carved hardwood with textile, glass beads and cowrie shells.
Style and use: ritual sculpture associated with personal devotion and spiritual mediation.
Condition: stable condition with visible age-related wear and developed patina. Minor bead losses and surface abrasions consistent with age. No major structural damage observed.

Baule spirit spouse figures are recognised for their balanced proportions and restrained formal clarity, reflecting 19th–20th century courtly aesthetics of central Côte d’Ivoire. The preserved surface patina and intact ritual attributes support both ethnographic significance and collector value.

Dimensions:
Height 49 cm
Width 13 cm
Depth 10.5 cm