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African & Tribal Art :
Baule Sculptures : Baule Ivory Sculpture of a Seated Chief
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Baule Ivory Sculpture of a Seated Chief - PF.4412
Origin: Central Ivory Coast
Circa: 20
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
8" (20.3cm) high
x 1.75" (4.4cm) wide
Collection: African
Style: Baule
Medium: Ivory
$6,000.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
The Baule people have been characterized as
possessing extreme individualism, great
tolerance and a deep aversion toward rigid
political structure. With such a free-spirited
background it is no wonder Baule sculptors
adopted their profession not through heredity, as
is common in other tribes, but from personal
choice or a desire manifested in a dream or
trance. Contact with the spirit world was crucial,
for it was often through a spirit an artist learned
what specific details were required for a statue,
such as hairdo, posture or scarification. It was
believed wooden sculptures and masks had a
closer contact with the supernatural world.
Baule statuary is distinguished by realistic
details, and by certain canons of beauty; for
instance, long hands, small buttocks and
elaborate coiffures. These traits are evident in
this beautiful sculpture, especially the hair,
which is made of innumerable fine braids and
intricately woven. This seated male may be
'spiritual' spouse, a figure created to offer
appeasement and given its own shrine in a
person's hut. Or, he may have been made to be
carried by a wife to remind her of her husband in
both his physical and spiritual aspects. With his
eyes closed and relaxed posture, he exudes a
sense of tranquility and harmony -lovely as the
contours of his physique.
- (PF.4412)
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