Male Spirit Spouse Figure (Blolo Bian) / Artist Unknown, African, Baule Peoples Côte D'Ivoire

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About this Item

Record Details

Accession Number
1971/2.32
Title
Male Spirit Spouse Figure (Blolo Bian)
Artist Nationality
Côte D'Ivoire
Medium and Support
wood, pigment
Object Creation Date
1920-1960
Object Creation Place
Africa (continent)
Côte d'Ivoire (nation)
Creation Place 1
Africa (continent)
Creation Place 2
Côte d'Ivoire (nation)
Dimensions
44.1 cm x 12.7 cm x 12.5 cm (17 3/8 in. x 5 in. x 4 15/16 in.)
Primary Object Classification
Sculpture
Primary Object Type
figure
Physical Description
Male figured seated on high-backed stool with hands resting on abdomen; symmetrical scarification patterns on cheeks and temples, also down center of forehead and at base of the nose. Coiffure is high crested and segmented. Figure wears sandals and necklace or amulet around neck. Figure has sheen to patina, pigmented deep brown in contrast to stool. Figure has bore hole in back between buttocks.
Subject Matter
Baule men and women have figures like this carved for their “other-world” or spirit spouses in order to please them and ensure they will bring health and good fortune. Above all, spirits require these figures to be beautiful. The spirit determines how he/she should look by revealing him/herself in a dream, either to his/her human spouse, a diviner, or the figure’s carver. This figure’s scarification patterns, placid countenance, coiffure, long neck and robust calves are features of ideal beauty in Baule eyes.
Rights
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Technical Details

Image Size
1995 x 3992
File Size
1 MB
Record
1971/2.32
Link to this Item
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1971-sl-2.32/1971_2_32_view1.jpg

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https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1971-SL-2.32:1971_2_32_VIEW1.JPG

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Full citation
"Male Spirit Spouse Figure (Blolo Bian); Artist Unknown, African, Baule Peoples Côte D'Ivoire." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1971-sl-2.32/1971_2_32_view1.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed March 18, 2024.
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