A male Baule sculpture

A male Baule sculpture, from the region between Yamoussoukro and Didiévi, Ivory Coast, standing on an oval base, the delicate feet and elongated toes supporting muscular legs ending in prominent buttocks, accentuated genitalia, a slender torso with a pointed navel, emphasized pectoral muscles and nipples, rounded shoulders leading to fragile arms carved close to the body, elongated hands touching the abdomen, the torso is decorated with scarification marks on the front and the backside, the elongated cylindrical neck supporting an oval head, a striated beard, a large mouth, a wide flattened nose, protruding almond-shaped eyes which are bordered all around, thick arched brows, spherical ears with a prominent tragus, further scarification marks on the face and the neck, the sculpture is capped by a striated coiffure with two ponytails at the back of the head; brown patina with remnants of kaolin, traces of age and ritual use, several cracks. Provenance Mr. Cabinet.

Lit.: Susan M. Vogel: Baule: African Art Western Eye, 1997, p. 169 (169-187); Bernard de Grunne: Über den Baule-Stil und seine Meister. In: Eberhard Fischer/Lorenz Homberger: Afrikanische Meister. Kunst der Elfenbeinküste, Zurüch 2014, p. 81-106; Alain-Michel Boyer: Baule. Visions of Africa, Milan 2008.

800 - 900,- Euro

Height: 59 cm
Weight: 1.9 kg