Seated male figure
All Baule human-figure sculptures are made for private shrines that belong to and serve single individuals. Spirit spouse figures such as this help their human partners broadly in their lives, and can spread their good will to the children or spouse of their partner. More rarely, a spirit spouse will help a clairvoyant or diviner to foretell the future for clients, or will produce some other specialized talent or activity, such as singing or dancing skills.
Wood
26 1/4 x 5 15/16 x 7 11/16 in. (66.7 x 15.1 x 19.5 cm)
Gift of Katherine White and the Boeing Company
81.17.232
Provenance: [J. J. Klejman Gallery, New York]; purchased from gallery by Katherine White (1929-1980), Seattle, Washington, 1964; bequeathed to Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, 1981