2007.34.1 Fly whisk with kneeling female figure

Baule notables act as the leaders and representatives for groups of independent Baule villages. Each of these individuals owns several fly whisks that serve as staffs of office. Fly whisks are sometimes entrusted to selected advisors but are usually displayed during public ceremonies and festivals, where they are piled in several basins in front of the leader. On this example, the chalice-shaped wooden handle is covered in gold leaf, and a short horsetail is attached with tightly-wrapped red string. The gilded surface contains shallow carvings of geometric patterns, human faces, quarter moons, horns, and other objects. Fly whisk ornamentation often culminates with a carved human figure or animal. This fly whisk is topped by a kneeling female figure holding her arms across her chest. The meaning of her presence is unfortunately unknown. 

Baule (culture): AAT: 300016009

Côte d'Ivoire (nation): TGN: 1000168

carving (processes): AAT: 300053149

fiber: AAT: 300014024

gold leaf: AAT: 300264831

hair (material): AAT: 300011814

horsehair: AAT: 300011819

leather: AAT: 300011845

tails (animal components): AAT: 300251800

wood (plant material): AAT: 300011914

twentieth century (dates CE): AAT: 300404514

authority (concepts): DMA

ceremonies: AAT: 300054754

crescent (motif): AAT: 300165510

faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798

festivals: AAT: 300073472

figures (representations): AAT: 300189808

fly whisks: AAT: 300258480

geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213

gold (color): AAT: 300311191

horns (animal components): AAT: 300400473

kneeling: AAT: 300265356

leaders (people): AAT: 300236993

lines (artistic concept): AAT: 300400858

patterns (design elements): AAT: 300010108

prestige: AAT: 300343604

red (color): AAT: 300126225

c. 1950-2006: private collection, Switzerland [1]

2006: Aspects of Africa, St. James NY [2]

2007: Dallas Museum of Art, African Collection Fund, purchase from above

The main source for this provenance is the object summary dated April 8, 2011, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records object file. Supplementary documentation is noted. 

[1] See the acquisition proposal, dated March 12, 2007, copy in object file. 

[2] See letter from Carol Griffin of the Dallas Museum of Art to Charles D. Miller, III of Aspects of Africa, dated April 24, 2007, copy in object file. 

Apply to objects where number equals 2007.34.1