Baule Wood Slingshot, Ivory Coast, Based

Calm carved face sits under a wide fork like a hat with horns.

This wooden slingshot on a base is Baule, and dates to the 20th century. It is ivory coast, west africa. Mounting an object on a base lets it stand upright, so its profile and carved details can be seen from every side. Dark reddish wood form with a broad open fork on top, curved like a cradle. Below, a long, serene face with a patterned hairline and slim nose is carved into the stem. The surface is satiny with light chipping at the fork. It is 2.5 inches wide, 2.25 deep and 6.5 high.

A composed expression, given the circumstances.