When I first encountered this 54 cm Baule female spirit spouse at a French auction, she wasn’t standing proudly—she had been transformed into a lampshade. For years, her sacred role had been overlooked, her presence reduced to decoration.
The Baule believe every person is married not only to an earthly partner but also to a spouse in the spirit world. Figures like this one were created to honor that bond, bringing peace, prosperity, and protection. They stood in the bedroom, where once a week the owner slept alone, joining his spirit wife in dreams. These figures even helped real couples stay together, offering a way to ease tensions and restore harmony.
I took it upon myself to restore her, giving back the dignity she was meant to carry. Today she stands again as a true Baule spirit spouse—a symbol of beauty, serenity, and balance between the seen and unseen worlds.
Sometimes, in rescuing an object, you feel as though you are also restoring a piece of its soul.
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