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Standing female figure (blolo bla)
Standing female figure (blolo bla)

Standing female figure (blolo bla)

Date19th-20th century
MediumWood
Dimensions9 7/8 x 2 1/4 inches (25.1 x 5.7 cm)
CultureBaule peoples
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineGift of William W. Brill
Terms
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • Sculpture
  • Carved wood
  • Female nudes
  • Scarification
  • Baule
Object number89.015.039
Label CopyBRIEF DESCRIPTION This realistic female figure functioned as an “otherworld mate” for a Baule man. These figures do not represent a deceased mate, but rather a spirit mate who remains in the “otherworld” when one is born. WHERE WAS IT MADE? This was made in the Ivory Coast, in a Baule community. HOW WAS IT MADE? The figure was carved from wood by a commissioned wood carver. HOW WAS IT USED? Figures of this type, called blolo bla (if female) and blolo bia (if male), are physical representations of one’s “other-world mate.” In Baule thought, the blolo, or “other-world,” is a world that exists in contrast to the world of physical reality. The need for a blolo bia or blolo bla is signaled by misfortunes, which are usually sexual in nature. If a man is having difficulty finding a spouse, or a woman is having trouble conceiving, it may indicate that the spirit mate is angry or jealous. In order to appease the spirit mate, a diviner will recommend that the individual experiencing difficulties commission an artist to carve a blolo bia or blolo bla. One night per week, a Baule individual sleeps with the otherworld mate, visits the mate in his or her dreams, and makes a small offering to the figure in the morning. WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS? Whereas Baule women tend to commission figures dressed in fashionable clothing, men more often prefer nude figures. This figure embodies Baule feminine beauty. Like other Baule spirit wives, this figure sports a neatly combed coiffure – appreciated because it demonstrates a woman’s capacity for careful bodily maintenance. However, this coiffure differs considerably from the style usually found on Baule figures. This crowned coiffure, along with the figure’s elongated nose on an almond-shaped face, suggests that this Baule spirit wife was made by a Yoruba carver who incorporated features commonly found in Yoruba sculpture, not Baule. To see the other blolo figures in the Johnson Museum’s collection, search for these object numbers in the keyword search box: 82.110.001, 82.114.007, and 92.005.070.
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