Description:

West Africa, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Baule / Anyi culture, ca. mid-20th century CE. A tall wooden female, carved with stylized features that reflect ideals of beauty and femininity. The figure is nude, with an elongated torso and neck, rounded hips, and conical breasts. A lustrous dark patina envelops the body - likely the result of touch or ritual oil applications. Her head it topped by a incised coiffure with a central crest. Raised and etched geometric patterning - signifying ritual scarification - adorns her face, neck, abdomen, and thighs, with white kaolin and pale blue pigments applied to the recessed areas. The neck and waist are draped in strands of glass seed beads. This may represent a Blolo Bla - a female spirit spouse believed to exist in the "otherworld" (blolo) and venerated through ritual offerings and care, often to ensure harmony and personal well-being. Size: 5" W x 30.5" H (12.7 cm x 77.5 cm); 32.25" H (81.9 cm) on included custom stand.

The Anyi people, closely related to and artistically influenced by the Baule tribe, share many aesthetic and spiritual traditions.

Provenance: private Louisville, Kentucky, USA collection, acquired 1990-1998

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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#193728

  • Condition: Overall, this figure is in very good condition, with minor cosmetic wear. Gouges and chips to the head crest, upper chest, and stomach. No significant damage or restoration. Lustrous patina throughout. Mounted on custom base.

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Shipping

Bidder Can Make Shipping Arrangements, Local Pick-Up, In-House Shipping

August 22, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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