The present figurine from Djebonoua, in the central settlement area of ​​the Baule people (Ivory Coast), belongs to a highly developed sculptural tradition characterized by the fusion of aesthetic ideality and spiritual significance. Baule figurines are frequently associated with concepts of blolo (otherworldly companions) or as expressions of individual and social identity.

The frontally oriented, upright figure exhibits a remarkable androgyny, combining female (breasts) and male sexual characteristics. This deliberate transgression of binary categories can be interpreted as an indication of a broader, integrative conception of identity and cosmic wholeness. The face, with its slightly open mouth and forward gaze, conveys a serene presence, while subtle ridges at the corners of the mouth and in front of the ears allude to scarification practices and the associated ideals of beauty and status.

The frontally oriented, upright figure is distinguished by its remarkable androgyny, combining female (breasts) and male sexual characteristics. The elaborately crafted hairstyle with braided elements and a headband emphasizes social representation, while ornamental structures on the neck, abdomen, and back rhythmically punctuate the surface. The bent arms, with hands resting on the abdomen, draw attention to the midsection as a center of vitality. A rope-like loincloth frames the genitals. The relatively shorter legs stand firmly on a pedestal, stabilizing the composition.

Traces of wear attest to the figure's use and suggest its integration into ritual or domestic contexts, where it unfolds its aesthetic and symbolic power.

Literature (selection)
Vogel, Susan Mullin: Baule: African Art, Western Eyes. New Haven, 1997.
Cole, Herbert M.: Icons: Ideals and Power in the Art of Africa. Washington, 1989.
Fischer, Eberhard: African Art. Munich, 2006.

CAB 46257

sold

Height: 45 cm
Weight: 1,1 kg