Baule Wood Spirit Spouse

She keeps both hands on her belly and her beads on, which seems sensible.

This spirit spouse figure is Baule, from Ivory Coast, West Africa, and dates to the early 20th century. It is wood and pigment. Among the Baule, figures of an otherworld partner are generally understood to have been carved at a diviner's direction to placate a spirit partner. She stands on a rectangular base and both hands resting on her belly. Blue pigment lines the brows and eyes, with white marks on the cheeks. A strand of white beads circles the neck with a round green pendant, and red and white beads ring the waist. It is 11 inches high and 2.25 wide.

Composed, adorned and in no hurry to leave.