작품 상세

Carved wood with textile remnants. Dimensions: 50 × 11 cm. Male ritual sculpture made according to the classical canons of Baulé art, representing a Waka-Sona, a term in the Baulé language meaning "wooden being," which designates figures linked to the Assié Oussou, spirits of the earth. The figure stands on a slightly raised base, with its hands resting on its abdomen and a beard curled into a topknot, an unusual iconographic feature that reinforces its uniqueness. It has a rich brown patina, partially covered with white clay, indicative of its ritual use. In the Baulé religious system, these sculptures were part of a set of mediating objects used by the Komien diviners, chosen by the Asye Usu spirits to transmit messages from the afterlife. Alongside the Waka-Sona figures, there were also the "wives of the afterlife," with male (Blolo Bian) and female (Blolo Bia) versions, conceived as idealized representations of the individual's spiritual complement. These sculptures embody the search for balance, wholeness, and harmony through the symbolic relationship between the visible and invisible worlds. This piece comes from a French collection and is presented with its certificate of authenticity. It is stored in an international warehouse (within the EU). Intra-EU shipping: no import duties apply within the EU. An export permit from the country of origin may be required.