Bidspirit auction | Carved Wooden Female Bust, Baule

Carved Wooden Female Bust, Baule or Senufo People, Ivory Coast, mid-20th century - Hand-carved hardwood bust depicting a serene female figure with refined facial features, a high braided coiffure with three rear plaits, and elongated neck above a flared circular base. The figure’s calm expression and symmetry typify Baule and Senufo portrait carvings used to honor ancestral or spiritual figures. The dark, burnished surface shows soft wear and traces of ritual handling. Approximately 10 in. high, 5 in. wide, and 4 in. deep. Condition: Stable vertical crack through base and rear; minor surface abrasions and wear consistent with age and use.