Baule Blolo or Spirit Spouse Figure

Painted red from head to toe, with black shorts and black shoes. Someone planned this outfit.

Carved in wood by the Baule of the Ivory Coast in the 20th century, this is a blolo, or spirit spouse figure. The Baule believe in an other world running parallel to ours, where each person has a spirit spouse. When that spouse is felt to be unsettled or jealous, a figure may be carved to give it a place, and is then kept and cared for by its owner.

He is slender, ten and a half inches tall, arms at his sides. His neck is ringed, with fine scarification marks at the temple and cheek.

Dress code: vivid.