Baule Blolo or Spirit Spouse Figure

A blue wrap dress with white dots and wavy lines. Red skin. Dark painted sandals. Whoever she is, she dressed for the occasion.

She is a Baule blolo from Ivory Coast, carved in wood in the 20th century and painted in bright, confident color. In Baule thought, a parallel world is home to each person’s spirit spouse, and figures like this were made to acknowledge and appease that partner. Just under ten inches tall, she has dark hair combed neatly back, black marks accenting the cheeks and a fleck of white to suggest teeth. She stands on a small rectangular base. The paint shows gentle wear consistent with handling.

Painted for another world. Visible in this one.