Sika Blawa (Male Figure)

About the Art

Sika blawa figures are prestigious items made for display and to call attention to the power of Baule chiefs. Here, light plays across the gold foil surface across a variety of cross-hatchings, striations and geometric patterns in the wood. This figure is thinner than most sika blawa. He stands atop a tortoise shell, but instead of resting his hands on his belly (a gesture of peace and unity through respect and deference) his hands are behind him, crossed at the wrists. It is unclear if he wears several ivory bracelets or if he is a prisoner with bound wrists.

FEATURED IMAGE
Artist(s) unknown (Ivory Coast, Baule people), Sika Blawa (Male Figure), mid-20th century, gold foil on wood, 12 1/8 x 13/8 x 1 3/8 inches (31.8 x 3.5 x 3.5 cm). Museum purchase with funds provided by the 2007 Associate Board Art Ball 2007.120