Large Baoulé Statue Depicting Motherhood, Ivory Coast

Large Baoulé fertility figure, finely carved with numerous scarifications and an intricate hairstyle. Height: 55 cm, and 59 cm with the base. The cult of motherhood is very important in Africa; a child is a future adult who will provide for their parents when they are old—a source of strength for the family and the village—and children are all the more important given the high rate of infant mortality. Note the large belly necklace. Antique statue, early 20th century.

The glare in the photos is due to the powerful lighting used to show the objects as clearly as possible; they are darker in reality.
From a very beautiful collection assembled by expatriates who lived in Africa in the 1950s and 1960s and later passed down through inheritance, and while this isn’t always the case, these cultured individuals took the time to carefully select their pieces on-site; they are all superb and antique, and I have several for sale.
Feel free to contact me for more information or to negotiate—it’s part of my job, and I’m happy to do it!