Baule Monkey Figure, Côte d'Ivoire

Gbekre

Baron Freddy Rolin, New York
Sotheby's, New York, January 20, 1982, lot 166, consigned by the above
Private collection, New York, acquired at the above auction

Statues of standing monkeys were used in many different Baule cults, the most prominent of which was Mbra. According to Vogel (1997: 224) a "man, woman, or child may be possessed by either of two kinds of powers: bush spirits, called asye usu, of which great numbers wander about in nature [...]; and Mbra, an ancient amuin (in other words a god), given to the Baule by the Creator, which can remain attached to certain families over generations. Both supernatural powers send their human partners into trance states [...] and there are similar beliefs about both. At least one substantial figure sculpture (usually more) should be created as an abode for the spirit or god, and this and the figure's numerous accessories make asye usu and Mbra cults the focus of much Baule art. [...] Only certain families have Mbra, having acquired it in past generations, and it lacks the close connection with the bush that asye usu have. Fewer persons are contacted by Mbra than by the multitude of bush spirits [...]."

Artists commissioned with the creation of sculptures used in the Mbra cult had to follow closely the instructions of the diviners who might have been told certain details about the figure's required physical appearance, posture, etc. by Mbra itself, often during a trance state or a dream. Vogel (1997: 238) notes: "Monkey figures share stylistic features with the men's sacred masks, and have some of the same qualities of secrecy and danger to women. They combine human and animal traits in such a way that it is nearly impossible to separate them, and they have the prominent teeth and boxy muzzle[... They] also receive sacrificial offerings directly on the wood sculpture, and are associated with the bush. Mbra monkey figures, for example are kept in the village, but 'fed' with sacrifices in the bush."