Extraordinary in size and quality of carving, this anthropomorphic male sculpture is as iconic and close to the ideal of beauty expressed by Baule sculpture.
Standing erect on a geometrically decorated plinth, with well-turned and powerful legs and calves, sex exposed, arms adorned with jewelry, and hands placed on his abdomen in an attitude of peace and serenity, this splendid work of Baule art, astonishes by the impressiveness of its size, the excellent proportions of its volumes, and, last but not least, the accuracy of its details.
The figure is certainly of high rank, as is evident from observing the complex scarifications masterfully arranged both on the abdomen and back and on the face, neck and nape of the neck.
In the elaborate sculpting of the head with the refined and complex hairstyle, the masterfully resolved ears in a circular form, the carefully combed beard, and the perfectly proportioned face from which a proud, austere, and serene expression shines through, all concur to confirm the high lineage of the dignitary depicted and, at the same time, the mastery of the anonymous sculptor who created this splendid work of art.
The wear and tear on some of the details of the face and abdominal scarifications inform us that this sculpture has been handled and rubbed for a long time, while a small black-and-white photo of the work testifies to its presence in an important Milanese private collection as early as 1974.