Baule Wood Slingshot, Ivory Coast

A black forked top with a bright red face, crowned in tiny hatched lines.

This wooden slingshot from the Baule peoples is Baule, and dates to the 20th century. It is ivory coast, west africa. Carved slingshots in West Africa sometimes have decorated handles, since many practical tools were also treated as objects to be made with care. Y-shaped dark form with a painted red face framed by a ridged headband. Below it, a red lizard-like figure with zigzag borders runs down the stem. The surface is glossy with some worn edges. It is 3 inches wide, 1.5 deep and 7.25 high.

Bold colors, and a very confident fork.