{"product_id":"sin-nombre-26oct_21-46","title":"Maternité sous le regard des ancêtres – Baule, Côte d’Ivoire","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe wood is dark, with a lustrous patina built over time, likely through ritual handling, libations, and devotion. Her elongated face, high domed forehead, finely incised coiffure, and delicate scarification marks reflect the formal canon of Baule beauty and status. The downward gaze and closed lips suggest emotional containment and inner strength—qualities deeply admired in Baule society, especially in maternal roles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaternity figures in Baule culture serve multiple spiritual and social functions. A woman might commission such a sculpture if it was believed her deceased husband’s spirit was causing infertility or illness in her children. In this context, the figure becomes an object of mediation and care—receiving offerings, attention, and ritual dialogue to restore balance. In other settings, spirit mediums (komien) use similar figures in trance divinations, allowing the sculpture to serve as a vessel for healing spirits or as a diagnostic tool in uncovering misfortune.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnical Sheet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObject: Ritual maternity figure\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTitle: Maternité sous le regard des ancêtres\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCulture: Baule\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate: Early to mid-20th century\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnique: Hand-carved\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterial: Wood with ritual patina\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions: 66 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight: 5.9 kg\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition: Acceptable (ritual wear, surface abrasions, patina consistent with age)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProvenance: Galerie Wolfgang Jaenicke, Berlin (acquired in Yamoussoukro region, Côte d’Ivoire)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DaRWIN","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51865699418450,"sku":null,"price":220.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0999\/7058\/0818\/files\/NewTemplate_3.jpg?v=1768121969","url":"https:\/\/thedarwin.es\/products\/sin-nombre-26oct_21-46","provider":"DaRWIN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}