51 - Ivory Coast, Gouro Culture

Ivory Coast, Gouro Culture Pulley, late 19th–early 20th century Wood with a reddish-brown patina, depicting a standing female figure with her arms at her sides, mounted on a stirrup-shaped base that encloses a cylindrical wheel. H. 27 cm Provenance: > Collection of Pierre (1900–1993) and Claude (1929–2018) Vérité, Paris, Christie’s auction, Paris, November 21, 2017 – lot 80 Loom pulleys are used to guide the cord that operates the loom’s heddles. Among the Gouro and Baoulé peoples, they are frequently topped with small human or animal figures. The figure, perched atop the mechanical component, serves as a protective talisman and a “beauty attractor,” believed to enhance the weaver’s dexterity and ensure the success of the weaving. The scarifications, meanwhile, reflect social identity and local aesthetic ideals. The presence of a female figure evokes fertility and prosperity.