In Africa, men do the weaving. By means of heddle pulleys such as the present one (the reel is located below and is missing on this piece) the weavers separate the warp threads into ‘fans’ by means of foot pedals. Then the weft threads are ‘shot through’ these ‘fans’. Thus, fabric is created. These heddle pulleys are particularly finely carved so that the weavers, who sit for the entire day at their looms, might have ‘something beautiful’ in front of their eyes.
The present heddle pulley of the Baule people, from central Ivory Coast, is one of these especially beautifully fashioned objects: with a female head of Janus with two faces (on the front and back) in the typical Baule style. With decorative scars on the temples and on both sides of the long neck, as well as with two towering, delicate antelope horns. An age-related crack to the side of one of the two heads and minimal, small breaks (to the ears as well as to the points of the horns). In addition the shiny, partially encrusted patina attests to the old age of this especially beautiful item.
Height: 24 cm; width: 7.5 cm. Between c. 1900 and the first third of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Private Collection of Prof. Dr. Rudolf Leopold, Vienna.

Lit.: ‘Baule. African Art - Western Eyes’ by Susan M. Vogel, ill. p. 293.