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Female sika blawa figure

19th–mid-20th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 341
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Female sika blawa figure
  • Artist: Baule artists
  • Date: 19th–mid-20th century
  • Geography: Côte d'Ivoire
  • Culture: Baule peoples
  • Medium: Wood, gold foil, beads
  • Dimensions: H. 10 × W. 2 × D. 2 1/4 in. (25.4 × 5.1 × 5.7 cm)
  • Classification: Wood-Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Buckeye Trust Gift, 1979
  • Object Number: 1979.16
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

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