Figure - Beads, Wood - Blolo Bla - Ivory Coast - 46 cm

Baule / Baoulé very fine carved wooden female effigy known as a "Blolo Bla". hardwood, beads, good positive signs of use, presumed age first half of the 20th century. The Baule believe that, in the otherworld called Blolo, all human beings were married before birth. These spirit spouses called blolo bian, meaning 'spirit husband', and blolo bla, meaning 'spirit wife', follow them into their human lives by way of human-figure sculptures called waka sran, or 'person in wood. These idols can house the spirit and act as a medium to the spirit world. Provenance: Field collected by Dr. Moses Malcolm, NY. Mr Malcolm worked among the Baule and Guro C. 1950's to early 1960's Sale of the Estate of above Private Collection, London UK.