Baule Blolo or Spirit Spouse Figure

Black lacquer, white teeth. The smile arrives before the figure does.

This male Baule spirit spouse from Ivory Coast was carved in the 20th century and stands thirteen inches tall. The Baule speak of a spirit husband or wife in the other world whose favor matters in this one, and a figure like this gave that partner a physical presence. White eyes bring the face forward, and the coiffure rises in a gentle crest. A deeply ringed neck leads to a compact torso, with hands resting on the belly beside the navel. A fine crack runs the length of the body, and the figure stands on a shaped block base.

Glossy, grinning, composed.