The male sculpted figures of the Baule, a large group of people on the Ivory Coast, are very similar to each other in appearance, yet they can have fundamentally different meanings: 1: The more common, standing or seated, female or male human figures are the ‘spirit spouses’. Each adult Baule has such a ‘spirit spouse’ with whom he or she can communicate (female: ‘Blolo Bla’, male ‘Blolo Bian’). See also cat. no. 32. 2: There are also the ‘bush spirits’ (known as ‘Asie usu’ or ‘Bo usu’). These figures can hardly be differentiated from the ‘spirit spouse’ based on their carving style. As sculptures, they look exactly the same. Only one feature distinguishes the ‘spirit spouse’ from the ‘bush spirit’: the figures of the ‘spirit spouses’ never receive sacrificial offerings. They are mostly completely smooth, often shiny and ‘clean’. The ‘bush spirit figures’ (‘Asie usu’ or ‘Bo usu’), in contrast, frequently received sacrificial offerings in order to appease the spirit. For this reason, ‘Asie usu’ and ‘Bo usu’ always have a noticeable, encrusted patina from repeated offerings. They are never smooth and ‘clean’. The present, male figure who sits on a typical Baule stool is a stylistically very accomplished example of Baule carving: He has a carefully executed hairstyle with fine lines, and a plaited braid at the back. With a beautiful Baule face and stylistically correct ears. The man holds his long beard with both hands, and displays on the left and right of his waist the scarification marks typical of his tribe. It is noteworthy that this male, seated figure has many noticeable, old, thick and encrusted patina layers on many areas, due to offerings. On the coiffure, the ears, the temples, on the eyes and nose, on the neck, the chest, over the body, and including the inside of the legs and the feet. Thus this figure is not a ‘spirit spouse’, a relatively common type, but rather a ‘bush spirit’, which is much more rare. These bush spirit figures, ‘Asie usu’, were mainly used by the ‘trance priests’ of the Baule people as ‘helpers’ during oracles, and were kept hidden in the houses of the priests. They could also be of assistance to private individuals in solving problems, or they could increase the success of the hunt for hunters (in which case they are known as ‘Bo usu’). The present ‘bush spirit’ figure, with its offering patina, is a very fine example of this sculptural type of the Baule people. Only one crack on the front of the plinth, otherwise a perfect piece and no other damage. H: 38.5 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.: 'Baule. African Art - Western Eyes' by Susan M. Vogel, fig. p. 15, 31, 81, 121.