A Baule monkey statue, Ivory Coast, collected in the region of Bouaké, provenance Alpha Gazambé, Abidjan. Certificate of origin and provenance.

Carved from wood and frequently encrusted with sacrificial materials such as blood, eggs, and millet beer, these figures are characterized by their aggressive features: protruding jaws, sharp teeth, and a muscular stance. The bowl held by the figure is not merely a physical attribute but a receptacle for offerings, symbolizing the community's ongoing relationship with the spiritual world. These statues are typically kept hidden in sacred groves, away from public view, and are considered too powerful to be displayed openly.

As art historian Susan M. Vogel explains:

“Baule Monkeys are powerful objects, which are forbidden to be seen in public display. Monkey figures share stylistic features with the men's sacred masks, and have some of the qualities of secrecy and danger to women. They combine animal and human traits in such a way that it is nearly impossible to separate them, and they have the prominent teeth and boxy muzzle typical of the masks. Both also receive sacrificial offerings directly on the sculpture and are associated with the bush. Mbra monkey figures, for example, are kept in the village but 'fed' with sacrifices in the bush.”
— Susan M. Vogel, 1997:238.

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Height: 56 cm
Weight: 2,1 kg