A Baule fly wisk (nandwa blawa), Ivory Coast, the wooden handle very finely decorated with geometric patterns also shows two carved faces, it is coated with leather and cowrie shells are sewn to it, red and black striped fabric covers the joint between the handle and the animal hair (horse-tail).

Throughout history various hand-held objects have become identified with authority. Fly-whisks are part of the regalia of Baule chiefs and notables and on public occasions they are held or set in front of them serving as a sign of rank, status and authority.

These prestigious symbols of the Baule were once covered with thin sheets of gold, which was mostly removed long ago and only some traces of gold are sometimes the remnants of the original state.

Lit.: Garland T. Riegel, The Fly Whisk, Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America, Volume 25, Issue 3, 15 September 1979, Pages 196–199.

sold

Height: 110 cm
Weight: 400 g