Anonymous Baule artist
Early 20th century
Wood, fibers, beads
height 15 3/4 in
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A ‘husband from the other world’ (blolo bian). Every Baule lived with such a spirit spouse; his was blolo bla, hers blolo bian. When diviners suspected the spirit spouse of causing personal problems (often sexual), the affected individual had to commission a statue for the jealous spirit. That figure needed to be beautiful to avoid further offence; hence, the classic ideal of Baule beauty of these statues: smooth skin; long neck; sophisticated coiffure; raised scarifications on the temples, the neck, the back and the chest; and a torso well-proportioned to the muscular calves and buttocks. Although similar in facture, statues of spirit spouses are generally smaller than those of the equally anthropomorphic asye usu, owned by Baule diviners.
Provenance
Janine and Josef Gugler Collection, Storrs, USA
Kimballs Auction, Hatfield, 22 February 2023, lot 266.
Duende Art Projects, Antwerp, Belgium, 2023