A VERY SERENE OLD WOOD SCULPTURE FROM THE BAULE PEOPLES OF WEST AFRICA. MEASURES 14.25 INCHES ON PROFESSIONAL DISPLAY STAND. A WONDERFUL DEEP WELL HANDLED PATINA SUGGESTS YEARS OF TRADITIONAL RITUAL USE. Ex Collection : Robert Banks, Maryland, USA.AMONG THE BAULE PEOPLES OF CÔTE D'IVOIRE, HUMAN EXPERIENCE EVOLVES OUT OF AND REMAINS INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO THE ANCESTRAL SPIRIT WORLD, OR BLOLO (ROUGHLY, "THE VILLAGE OF TRUTH"), WHICH CONTROLS AND DETERMINES THE FATE OF THE LIVING. DIVINATION FIGURES SUCH AS THIS HANDSOME MALE ARE KNOWN AS "BLOLO BIAN" OR SPIRIT HUSBAND. SUCH IDOLS SERVE AS LINKS TO THE SPIRIT WORLD AND ARE A CRITICAL ELEMENT IN A BAULE DIVINER'S PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. BAULE DIVINERS ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY SPIRITS, OR ASYE USU, AS MEDIUMS THROUGH WHICH TO COMMUNICATE IMPORTANT INSIGHTS INTO THE HUMAN CONDITION. THE SCULPTURES ARE OFTEN DESCRIBED AS THE ASYE USU'S "STOOL,"

Fair, well handled ( display stand has rust)