A male Baule hunter statue

A male Baule hunter statue, Daoukro region, Ivory Coast, posted on a small base, wearing a loin cloth and carrying a fly whisk and a sword; encrusted dark brown patina, traces of age and ritual use. Certificate of origin and provenance.

“To articulate historians, the most consistent features of Baule art is a kind of peaceful containment. Faces tend to have downcast eyes and figures most often hold their ams against the body. […] Among their abundant art forms, the Baule people continue to place the greatest value on masks and figure sculptures, which remain the only sculptural art still widely used in Baule villages. While there is a difference between the Baule view of their objects and that of Western connoisseurs, there are points of agreement. Aesthetic appreciation is one: Baule artist, and individual owners of objects, certainly sometimes enjoy the beauty of these objects and the skill it took coproduce them. […] Baule: African Art, Western Eyes. Susan M.Vogel 1997.

“A carving of the Baule people of the Ivory Coast is of a type sometimes referred to as an 'ancestor figure'. In fact, it represents a male spirit lover, blolo bian who would be partnered by a female spirit lover, blolo bla. They are frustrated partners left behind in the world of the spirits when people are born into this world. Each man and woman is believed to have a spirit double or spouse that resides in the other world. If the spirit becomes angry, the human spouse commissions a carving to receive offerings. Cloths and jewellery are used to decorate the figure which is oiled regularly. The Baule believe that beauty helps promote fertility and avoid marital problems so the blolo bian has an elaborate hairstyle with intricate textured designs.” J. Perani and F.T. Smith, The visual arts of Africa: gen (Prentic Hall, New Jersey, 1998).

A male Baule hunter statue from the Daoukro region would be a rare and culturally significant piece, reflecting the Baule people's rich artistic and spiritual traditions. While specific examples from Daoukro are not widely documented, Baule sculptures from central Côte d'Ivoire, including Daoukro, often depict idealized human forms with intricate details.

For instance, a late 19th-century male Baule statue, crafted from wood, glass beads, and gold, features detailed scarification patterns and a distinctive headdress. Standing at 47.5 cm tall, this piece exemplifies the Baule's artistic finesse and spiritual beliefs

Another example is a male Baule sculpture from the Mbahiakro region, approximately 54 cm in height. This piece, priced at €600, showcases the Baule's craftsmanship and connection to both visible and invisible realms. wolfgang-jaenicke

If you're interested in acquiring such a statue, galleries like Galerie Guerrin offer male Baule statues from the Ivory Coast, with one example standing 44 cm tall and dating to the first half of the 20th century .

For a more in-depth understanding of Baule art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art provides detailed descriptions of Baule figures, highlighting their spiritual and cultural significance. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

While specific references to Daoukro are limited, exploring these resources can provide valuable insights into the artistry and cultural context of Baule sculptures.

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Height: 56 cm
Weight: 1,4 kg