Baule Blolo or Spirit Spouse Figure

Two metal studs for breasts. The carver was not shy about materials.

This red-painted Baule spirit spouse from Ivory Coast was carved in the 20th century and stands eleven inches tall. Such figures were usually commissioned on a diviner’s advice and placed in the bedroom, where the spirit partner could be given attention. A smooth black coiffure frames a long face with white eyes and a pale mouth. The arms hang at the sides, fingers carefully carved, and a black belt circles the waist above the navel. The black base is carved in two lobes and has split at the center.

A figure with a flair for the unexpected.