Wholesale Vintage Baule Blolo Bian Male Spirit Mate Statue | 18"

Baule statues and figures are the most known and collected tribal art in Africa. This is due to the fineness and detail of the carvings. This figure is one of a class of such objects, very common and well established among the Baule, they call "blolo bian". We refer to them as "spirit mates" or "spirit spouses". The Baule believe that every person in this world has a mate/spouse in the spirit world (men in this world have a corresponding "wife" in the spirit world; women in this world have a "husband"). That spirit mate has the power to intervene with the gods in the spirit world on behalf of his mate/spouse in this world for the benefit/advantage of the mate in this world. Every Baule person is able to resolve any of his/her concerns/problems by beseeching the involvement of his/her mate in the spirit world. This figure measures: 4" x 3.25" x 18"