Description
An artistic melting pot, the Bondoukou region in northeastern Côte d’Ivoire near the border with Ghana is inhabited by several ethnic groups whose cultures and artistic styles often intermingle. This figure’s rounded shapes and delicate surface decoration––which seem to imitate body scarifications––closely resemble the style of Baule carvings. The figure’s meaning and function remain a mystery.
Provenance
Henri Kamer; Katherine C. White [1929-1980], Gates Mills, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art (?—1972); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1972–)
Accession Number
1972.343
Medium
Wood, paint, glass beads, and natural fiber
Dimensions
Overall: 54.1 x 7.8 x 7.5 cm (21 5/16 x 3 1/16 x 2 15/16 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Credit Line
Gift of Katherine C. White