Wholesale Vintage Baule Slingshot from Ivory Coast, Africa

Slingshots are carried by young boys for hunting birds and bats in the forest, sources of protein in places where that is often scarce. The slings are made, usually, by the father of the boy (though more wealthy families will commission one from a professional carver.) The carvings are talismanic, meant to protect the boy. Most carvings are of deities or spirits, often woodland spirits, which are always female and often red. European nail polish is a favored source of the red color. Masks abound, sometimes with the entire costume used in dance. There is a feeling that the mask carvings function best as protectors if they are facing the source of danger, and “right-side up,” rather than upside down. For that reason, a sling will very often have two masks, facing in opposite directions; two masks, one oriented up and one down, or both. There may be up to eight masks, “to cover all the bases”. Other subjects for the carving enhance huntin This Slingshot measures 8" x 3"