Baule, Ivory Coast: Old figure of a bush spirit ‘Asie usu’, with thick, encrusted sacrificial patina.
Baule, Ivory Coast: Old figure of a bush spirit ‘Asie usu’, with thick, encrusted sacrificial patina.
The Baule people, a large tribe in Ivory Coast, have two types of figure: the smooth ‘spirit spouses’, who do not receive sacrificial offerings (see cat. no. 49), and the much rarer sculptures depicting bush spirits. The latter are called ‘Asie usu’ (or ‘Bo usu’) and receive sacrificial offerings on special altars at regular intervals.
The present, male Baule figure is a rare ‘Asie usu’ made of hard, heavy wood and dyed black, with typical tribal hairstyle, goatee and scarification marks on the head, neck, abdomen and back, with a recognisable thick, old, partly encrusted sacrificial patina. Carved in an early, extremely slender and elegant style. The white staining that is visible on the patina and on the underside of the round plinth is due to old sacrificial offerings with white kaolin, as is customary with ‘Asie usu’ figures.
Minor age damage (small cracks to the right hand and left foot).
Between the 19th century and the first third of the 20th century; H: 45 cm. (ME)
Lit.: 'Trésors de Cote D'Ivoire' by Francois Neyt, fig. 174, 181, 182; 'Baule. African Art - Western Eyes' by Susan M. Vogel, fig. p. 81, 262.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
26.05.2015 - 15:00
- Realized price: **
-
EUR 1,500.-
- Estimate:
-
EUR 2,400.- to EUR 2,800.-
Baule, Ivory Coast: Old figure of a bush spirit ‘Asie usu’, with thick, encrusted sacrificial patina.
The Baule people, a large tribe in Ivory Coast, have two types of figure: the smooth ‘spirit spouses’, who do not receive sacrificial offerings (see cat. no. 49), and the much rarer sculptures depicting bush spirits. The latter are called ‘Asie usu’ (or ‘Bo usu’) and receive sacrificial offerings on special altars at regular intervals.
The present, male Baule figure is a rare ‘Asie usu’ made of hard, heavy wood and dyed black, with typical tribal hairstyle, goatee and scarification marks on the head, neck, abdomen and back, with a recognisable thick, old, partly encrusted sacrificial patina. Carved in an early, extremely slender and elegant style. The white staining that is visible on the patina and on the underside of the round plinth is due to old sacrificial offerings with white kaolin, as is customary with ‘Asie usu’ figures.
Minor age damage (small cracks to the right hand and left foot).
Between the 19th century and the first third of the 20th century; H: 45 cm. (ME)
Lit.: 'Trésors de Cote D'Ivoire' by Francois Neyt, fig. 174, 181, 182; 'Baule. African Art - Western Eyes' by Susan M. Vogel, fig. p. 81, 262.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 26.05.2015 - 15:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 20.05. - 26.05.2015 |
** Purchase price incl. buyer's premium and VAT
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