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.)
- Century
- Mid-20th century
- 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.
- Secondary Keywords
- analytical functions
- associated concepts
- figures (representations)
- functions
- functions (activities)
- functions by general context
- objects we use
- people and culture
- religions and religious concepts
- religious concepts
- sculpture
- sculpture by material
- visual works
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- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- 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
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
- In public portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1971-SL-2.32:1971_2_32_VIEW1.JPG
Cite this Item
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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.