Antique Baule Ivory Coast African Carved Wood Seated Female Spirit Wife Statue

Description: Blolo Bla - Spirit Wife figure - by the Baule people of the Ivory Coast She measures 19”Hx5.5”x5.5” Seated fertility figure, Ivory Coast. The style and wear suggest this piece has had significant tribal use and dates to the mid 19th century. The Baule believe that, in the otherworld called Blolo, all human beings were married before birth. These spirit spouses called blolo Bla, meaning 'spirit Wife', and blolo bian, meaning 'spirit husban', follow them into their human lives by way of human-figure sculptures called waka sran, or 'person in wood'. Baule people carve these figures to represent their otherworld spouses and they believe that these spirits have influence over their human lives. Spirit figures are intended to serve a single individual and have private shrines in the home dedicated to them. When a Baule person undergoes some form of distress, be it emotional, physical or spiritual, he or she might consult a komien, or diviner. Divination usually reveals that one's spirit spouse has become jealous or angry and is the cause of such distress. Oftentimes, the proposed solution is to devote a shrine, called tata, in which the figure becomes the centre and its vengeful spirit can be appeased. The Baule believe spirit figures can bring good fortune to all areas of life. However, it is also believed that any good fortune the owner receives reduces the amount of good fortune that's available to everyone else. With that in mind, owners keep all personal possessions and sculptures out of sight in closed sleeping rooms. Although these figures aren't considered to be sacred objects, they were intended to only be used and openly looked at by the individual owner. If the owner chooses to show these sculptures, surreptitious glancing, called nian klekle, is the only acceptable way for Baule people to view these sculptures when displayed as art. Please see all pictures. It does show some age, There is a crack in the base. Visit my store for more African Tribal Art 3 business days shipping and handling Thanks for looking

Price: 450 USD

Location: Bogart, Georgia

End Time: 2024-08-16T15:16:13.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD