BAULE’ Ivory Coast, region of Bouaké h 43 cm Figure... Lot 9

BAULE’ Ivory Coast, region of Bouaké h 43 cm Figure with a child. Wood with a dark glaze, painted with a mixture of white colours, a loop of small, coloured pearls around the neck of the child. According to American researcher Susan Vogel, who has documented the world of Baulè art, this sculpture depicts a young woman presenting her newly born child to the community.It has been preserved for a long time by its owner, who has treated it with a great deal of care, rubbing it gentle with ointments and thin cloths, as can be seen on the areas of the wood that appear more polished on account of these actions. The woman is sitting on a small seat reserved for the community’s high-ranking persons. Her face and body show signs of precious tattoos which highlight her elevated social status. She might be the wife of a sovereign or the chief of the village. Her face expresses an attitude of calmness, while still showing great care for her little one, whom she holds in her arms while she breastfeeds it. This may perhaps be her firstborn.Her hairstyle, very elaborate, depicts that reserved for high-ranking women, just like the tattoos present across her body.As well as side plaits, which are wrapped around her back, there is a composition of locks of hair engraved with subtle strokes which fall from the top of the nape in gradual steps to cover her ears.Unlike other Baulé sculptures, which are typically symmetrical, here the work is very complex, both judging from the position of the woman and from the presence of the child. It is well-known that depictions of mothers with children are rare in Baulé art.The difficulty of the execution of this work, with the alternation of full and empty volumes, crafted with great formal balance, the elegance of the fine details but, above all, the fine engraving work with which the hairstyle has been sculpted, are details that demonstrate the work belongs to a grand master of Baulé art. PROVENANCE Galleria Paolo Morigi, Lugano (1978); Collection of Walter Schwab, Bern (inv. WS 319) (2005) On the back of the sculpture, a label notes that the work was produced by sculptor Kouassi Kouame around 1945 (*); NOTE Lot not located at Finarte offices but in Switzerland. It could be subject to customs costs related to the importation into the buyer’s country. In any event, any customs cost and/or burden related to importation shall be borne by the buyer. For more information, please write an email to arteafricana@finarte.it LITERATURE LEUZINGER ELSY, L’Arte dell’Africa Nera, Milano 1972, pag. 114, G6 (15); VOGEL SUSAN M., L’art Baoulé du visible et de l’invisible, Paris 1999 (395); BOYER ALAIN-MICHEL, Visions d’Afrique: Baulé, Milano 2008 (703);