The Baule people have two different types of these figures. Although they are stylistically very similar, they have two very different meanings.
1: On the one hand, there are the ‘spirit spouses’ (‘Blolo Bian’). These are figures that depict beings who live in the afterlife and to whom one can turn to for advice on everyday problems. ‘Spirit spouses’ are the personal property of adults. They do not receive sacrificial offerings and their surface is always smooth and shiny (see cat. no. 30).
2: There are then the much rarer figures of bush spirits, called ‘Asie Usu’. They look stylistically very similar, but they are spirits who aid the soothsayers of the Baule people when creating their oracles and predictions in a trance. The ‘Asie Usu’ are easily distinguished from the ‘spirit spouses’. This is because the soothsayers often made sacrificial offerings to the ‘Asie Usu figures’ so as to strengthen their helpful powers. The offerings were usually millet gruel, beer, kaolin etc. Therefore, the present male figure is, without doubt, a helpful ‘bush spirit’ belonging to a trance soothsayer. This is identifiable through the remaining traces of sacrificial offering covering its entire surface.
This ‘Asie Usu’ is carved from hard, heavy wood in a very idiosyncratic, yet accomplished style and was originally dyed black. Its hairstyle is shown through delicately drawn lines. It has typical, round Baule ears, eyebrows in relief, large, outlined, almond-shaped eyes, a closed mouth and a goatee is also suggested with some fine lines. The unusually large hands rest on the abdomen. The prominent scarification marks on the chest, abdomen, neck and back are typical of the Baule people. The ‘Asie Usu’ stands on relatively large, well crafted feet on a rounded base carved out from the same piece. All around the base are lines in relief. The special element of this figure is the large, protruding head that ‘hangs’ over the chest.
Overall this is a Baule sculpture in an unusual, special style with only some small, age-related damage (some minor cracks and erosion to the base below). Otherwise no damage. It has a good, reddish, shiny patina on the exposed ‘worn’ areas. Height: 34.5 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Italian private collection.

Lit.:
'Trésors de Cote D'Ivoire' by Francois Neyt, ill. 174, 181, 182; 'Baule. African Art - Western Eyes' by Susan M. Vogel, ill. p. 236, 262.