Vintage Baule Female Spirit Figure (Côte d'Ivoire) – African tribal art

Specifications
Item Type: Carved Wooden Spirit Figure (Asie Usu)
Ethnic Group: Baule (Baoulé)
Country of Origin: Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Material: Carved Hardwood
Height: 24 cm
Notable Features: Deeply aged and weathered patina, prominent natural age crack down the center, detailed traditional coiffure, hands on abdomen.

About this Figure
Add a piece of profound West African spiritual history to your collection with this authentic, hand-carved Baule Female Spirit Figure. Originating from the Baule people of Côte d'Ivoire, this 24 cm wooden sculpture bears the physical hallmarks of extensive ritual use and significant age.
This captivating piece features classic Baule stylistic elements, including a finely grooved, swept-back coiffure, distinct facial features, and hands resting gently on the abdomen—a traditional gesture symbolizing inner peace, fertility, and the continuation of the ancestral lineage. Given its heavily weathered surface and deep, natural desiccation crack down the torso, this statue was likely utilized as an Asie Usu (bush spirit) figure, kept in a shrine and receiving offerings over many years to appease nature spirits.
Standing on an integral carved base, this sculpture is a true artifact. Its rugged beauty and deep history make it a phenomenal addition for serious collectors of tribal art and African antiquities.