A female Bete sculpture from the Gagnoa region

A female Bete sculpture, Ivory Coast, collected in the region of Gagnoa, certificate of origin and provenance.

"Bête" sculpture, or bête sculpture, can refer to a few different things depending on the context. The term "bête" in French translates to "beast" or "animal," so a "bête" sculpture would typically refer to a work of art depicting an animal, often in a stylized or symbolic manner. It might also refer to a sculpture of a mythical or fantastical creature.
Here are a few possibilities for what "bête sculpture" could mean:

1. Animal or Beast Sculptures: Sculptures that depict real or imagined animals—whether naturalistic or abstract representations—could be considered "bête" sculptures. This could include works like the famous sculptures of lions, bulls, or other animals by artists throughout history.

2. Mythological Creatures: It could refer to sculptures of legendary or mythical beasts, such as dragons, griffins, or other fantastic creatures from folklore or mythology.

3. "Bête" as a Metaphor: The term "bête" might be used in a more metaphorical sense,
where a sculpture portrays a creature representing human emotions or moral themes, such as the "beast within."

4. "Bête" as in La Bête (The Beast): In some contexts, particularly in art history or French literature, "La Bête" might evoke an allegorical figure—such as in "Beauty and the Beast"—where a sculptural representation of the "beast" might serve as a symbol for deeper meanings, including concepts of transformation, human nature, and morality.

Height: 66 cm
Weight: 4 kg