Baule Blolo or Spirit Spouse Figure

Private objects, these. Kept out of sight in the owner’s room, where a spirit partner could be visited and appeased.

This nine-inch blolo is Baule, from Ivory Coast, carved in the 20th century, small enough to hold in two hands. The figure stands with arms straight at the sides, its red-painted body accented in black at the eyes, nipples and navel, a white loincloth at the hips. Dark hair with traces of brown frames a long, narrow face. Fine crazing runs through the red paint, and the oval black base is worn at the edges.

It has the look of something that listened well.