Baule
Côte d'Ivoire
Coastal West Africa
Ceremonial Weapon
INV-1528
Baule
Côte d'Ivoire
Coastal West AfricaLate 19th/mid–20th century
Ceremonial Weapon
Baule Côte d'Ivoire Coastal West Africa →bauleArts of Africaafrican ArtCoastal West Africawoodarts of Africa
Date
Late 19th/mid–20th century
Medium
Wood and iron
Dimensions
39.4 × 29.9 × 5.8 cm (15 1/2 × 11 3/4 × 2 1/4 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Dr. Jimmy and Mrs. Jetta Jones
The blade of this ceremonial weapon juts outward from a baboon’s mouth. It is possible that weapons like this were related to blacksmithing. Alternatively, the weapon may have belonged to a diviner whose skills derived from a close relationship with a wilderness spirit. Special training allows diviners to work in concert with such spirits to reveal the sources of human illness and trouble. Wilderness spirits often ask the people they possess to have unique objects like this weapon, or an elaborate belt [see 2011.706] made for them, to be displayed during a diviner’s public trance performances.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
