Set of 3 combs - Baule - Côte d'Ivoire

Ivory Coast Baoulé Wood Dimensions from the left: h eight: 20 cm - width: 7 cm - depth: 1 cm height: 24 cm - width: 6 cm - depth: 1 cm height: 23.5 cm - width: 7 cm - depth: 1 cm This lot of three carved wooden combs comes from the Baoulé people of Ivory Coast (West Africa). Among the Baoulé, the wooden comb goes far beyond its simple function as a toilette accessory to become a true work of art, a prestige object and a means of social communication. Stylistic Characteristics and Observation of the Pieces Visible from both faces, these objects share the finesse of Baoulé wood carving while displaying decorative variants: • The long-toothed structure: the three combs have long, thick and sharp teeth, meticulously cut and polished. This spacing and robustness are perfectly suited for caring for, detangling, and braiding creped hair. • The left comb: it is distinguished by a concave apex forming two points resembling horns, adorned at its base with a frieze of geometric motifs incised in chevron patterns interlocked, a decorative motif recurring in Baoulé craftsmanship. • The middle comb: Its central part is carved with a large X-shaped cross. Its handle stretches upward to end in a spade-shaped, geometric form. • The right comb: It has an elongated silhouette. The base of the handle and the handle’s scrolled tip are decorated with fine checkerboard engravings, recalling the scarification patterns visible on their statuary. Use and Traditional Functions among the Baoulé In Baoulé society, these combs perform three functions: • Hairdressing and utility: Hairstyle is a major component of identity. These combs are used to create the intricate braids and buns that indicate a woman’s age, marital status, or social rank. • Ornament and prestige adornment: Once the hairstyle is finished, these carved combs were not stored away. They were often planted directly in the women’s hair as a head jewel, an adornment displaying elegance, flirtation, and rank within the community. • Emotional and symbolic value: These intimate art objects were very often carved by men to be given to women (fiancée, wife or mother) as pledges of love, respect, or wedding gifts. The geometric motifs engraved often serve as silent messages or wishes of protection. The Baoulé are one of the most important ethnic groups in Ivory Coast. Their name reflects their origin: according to a legend, Queen Aba Pokou led her people in an exodus to the gold-mining regions during the 18th century; she had to sacrifice her son to the river god in order to cross it. The people were then called the “Bauli,” meaning: “the son is dead.” Baoulé artists produced numerous objects of art and remain very active today. With their sense of stylization and attention to detail, they have created works that rank among the most elegant African objects. The Baoulé have created masks, statues, statuettes, fetishes, combs, chairs, weaving-ted machinery pulleys, canes, spear-throwers, slings, ointment boxes, oracle boxes, divination boxes, carved doors, bead necklaces, and gold and bronze jewelry worn during major ceremonies. Packages are sent Monday through Saturday with a tracking number. Chronopost delivery between 1 to 3 days in France and 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery for the rest of Europe and the world via Colissimo International. We speak english. mask African art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst

Estimate:£142.19

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