Original Early to Mid 20th Century African Baule Female Hand Carved Wood Statue. This Beautiful African female statue is a stunning piece. She measures 24" inches in height. She has incredible detailing to it on the face and body from head to toe. There is some cracking from age which is to be expected. One of the feet has some damage and a portion missing as displayed in the photo gallery. Please review all photos for details and feel free to ask any questions. Add this phenomenal piece to your current collection. Among the Baule people the human experience evolves out of these figures represent an ideal of man or womanhood, embodying not only physical perfection, but social, moral and intellectual achievement. Spirit spouse sculptures can be seen as a kind of opposite sex alter ego and are fascinating. The Baule are one of a number of African groups who believe that before birth, human beings all had Blolo bla (spirit wife) and Blolo bian (spirit husband) spouses in the other world who can influence their lives and remains inextricably linked to the ancestral spirit world, or blolo (roughly, "the village of truth"), which controls and determines the fate of the living. This female figure most likely represents a sculpture made for a spirit wife. These figures represent an ideal of embodying not only physical perfection, but social, moral and intellectual achievement. This seated figure would be a wonderful addition to your collection or home. Shipped via FedEx Ground and USPS Priority International Mail.