Maternité sous le regard des ancêtres – Baule, Côte d’Ivoire

This finely carved maternity figure from the Baule people of central Côte d’Ivoire likely originates from the Yamoussoukro region, a cultural heartland where spirit and sculpture are inextricably linked. Seated with measured dignity on a stool, the woman holds a child in her lap—her expression serene, introspective, almost meditative. She does not simply depict a mother, but rather a spiritual intercessor: a blolo bla, a “spirit spouse,” or a waka sran, a “wooden person”—an emissary between the material world and the ancestral realm.

Technical Sheet
Title: Maternité sous le regard des ancêtres
Artist / Author: Baule, Côte d’Ivoire
Date: Early to mid-20th century
Technique / Printing Method: Hand-carved
Dimensions: 66 cm
Condition: Acceptable (ritual wear, surface abrasions, patina consistent with age)