Description
Baule Carved Marriage Door
The Baule people believe that in addition to the world of the living,
there is a spirit world that runs parallel. In it each man and woman
has a spirit mate which can be called upon to assist in the real world.
If one has problems succeeding in life then a wooden statue called a
“spirit figure” or “spirit spouse” can be carved that embodies this spirit.
Baule carving traditions embrace embellished functional objects,
mask forms that enhance performances and sculptures that facilitate
relations with the spirit world. Wooden doors known as anuan, adorned
with human, animal, and vegetal motifs were once produced by Baule
carvers to embellish entrances to public and private spaces such as courtyards
and rest houses. The carvers used the rectangular surface of the doors as canvases
to elaborate in low or high relief scenes that are either purely decorative,
or that allude to proverbs and myths.
