Finely carved wooden male sculpture from the Baule of the Ivory Coast of West Africa. Baule statuary is dominated by elaborate figures carved to symbolize "spirit spouses". Baule mythology dictates that every adult, male or female, has such a spouse, that may be encountered in dreams. The sculptures are kept in the home and rubbed with oils and often decorated. This example has been mounted to a custom wooden base and measures 15 1/2 inches tall. Carved from a very heavy dense wood.

Stress fracture in torso and base., otherwise intact.