Female sika blawa figure
Ever present, umien (spirits of the ancestors) command great influence over the well-being of their descendants in Baule society. The material forms associated with their veneration are carved seats and gold artifacts. Harvested from the earth, gold is considered intrinsically potent in its natural state. This figurine sculpted from wood evokes the pinnacle of Baule female cultivation and refinement through her elegantly plaited coiffure and the adornment of her body with intricate cicatrizations. Her straight posture, strong neck, and muscular calves indicate moral uprightness and the ability to bear the burden of physically demanding work. The wrapping of the completed sculpture in gold foil transformed it into an heirloom intended as an offering for an adja, or family treasure.
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