Figure Baule

A Male Figure Between the Physical World and the blolo

This Baoulé figure depicts a Blolo bian, or spiritual husband. It is used in the practices of diviners as a bridge between the physical world and the blolo, the ancestral spiritual realm. The sculpture thus expresses a belief in which human life and the spiritual world are closely connected. Offered by Versmissen, it originates from Ivory Coast and dates from the mid-20th century.

Carved from natural wood, this male figure features beige tones and measures 26 x 21 x 41,5 cm. It was probably intended for divination rituals and embodies the belief that the blolo influences the destiny of the living. Through its subject and function, the figure makes visible the importance placed on the ancestral world in Baoulé culture. Its size and silhouette concentrate this spiritual dimension in a recognisable human representation.

Baoulé Figure Details

• Male depiction of a Blolo bian
• Figure associated with divination practices
• Carved from natural wood
• Dimensions: 26 x 21 x 41,5 cm
• Originating from Côte d’Ivoire