Exhibited: Africa 69, Arts de la Côte-d'Ivoire et de l'Afrique occidentale, Vevey, 1969.

The figure is carved standing atop a square base, the hands folded across the abdomen, which is centered by a protruding navel. She displays prominent breasts and an outsized head with closed eyes set above upturned lips, all surmounted by a neatly arranged coiffure. The face, neck, chest, and back are marked with scarification patterns. She is dressed in a woven loincloth and beaded chains adorn her neck and waist.

Provenance: Centre des Sciences Humaines, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Jean-Louis Rinsoz (1932-1971), Vevey, Switzerland, 1969, and thence by descent. Collection of Gerhard Merzeder (b. 1963), internationally published and acclaimed fashion and portrait photographer, Vienna, Austria, assembled since the 1980s.
Jean-Louis Rinsoz (1932-1971), born in Vevey, studied economics at the University of Lausanne before entering the family firm, Rinsoz et Ormond SA, producers of tobacco, cigars, and cigarettes. In the mid-1960s, while exploring new production regions, his travels brought him to Côte d'Ivoire—a transformative encounter that sparked his fascination with traditional Ivorian art. During this period, he met the ethnologist and art historian Bohumil Holas, then director of the Musée des Civilisations de Côte d'Ivoire in Abidjan, with whom he formed a close friendship. These experiences culminated in the 1969 exhibition, 'The Art of Côte d'Ivoire: Art Treasures from the Museum of Abidjan' at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Vevey, for which Jean-Louis Rinsoz served as committee chairman.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few natural cracks with minor touchups, small nicks, and light scratches.

Weight: 474 g
Dimensions: Height 34 cm

This finely carved female figure was likely commissioned by a Baule man as the representation of his blolo bla, or otherworld spouse, following the guidance of a diviner who determined that the difficulties he faced in life stemmed from the jealousy of this neglected spiritual partner. Such figures were kept for private consultation and veneration, serving as intermediaries through which harmony and balance could be restored. In creating her, the sculptor sought to embody both her identity and the aesthetic qualities that would please her.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related wood female figure, Baule culture, Côte d'Ivoire, dated early to mid-20th century, 44.2 cm tall, in the African Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, object number 2005-6-14.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby's Paris, 3 December 2025, lot 44
Price: EUR 19,050
Description: A Baule Figure, Côte d'Ivoire
Expert remark: Compare the similar pose, facial features, and headdress. Note the size (47 cm).