All auctions / Ethnographic / Baule Heddle Pulley, Ivory Coast Fertility Figure w/ Scarification

Oct 15, 2026US

Baule Heddle Pulley, Ivory Coast Fertility Figure w/ Scarification

West Africa, Cote d'Ivoire, Baule peoples, ca. mid-20th century CE. A finely carved Baule wood heddle pulley depicting a seated nude pregnant female figure, her stylized form marked by incised scarification across the face, neck, and back, with pendulous breasts and a rounded belly gently held by both hands in a gesture that underscores ideals of fertility, continuity, and maternal strength. Used in weaving narrow bands of cloth, these pulleys were functional tools, but also served as canvases for personal expression and artistic refinement, often given as gifts among weavers. Size: 3.1" W x 7.9" H (7.9 cm x 20.1 cm) Item # 201944

Estimate:$200

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Baule Heddle Pulley, Ivory Coast Fertility Figure w/ Scarification

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Estimate:

$200

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