This type of mother and child figure is found among the sculpture of many African tribes such as the Guinea Coast, Congo and even Cote d’Ivoire. It is a carving that is pre-Christian in most areas but was influenced by early Christian missions. It is one of the very few African carvings of this subject that suggests an emotional active response between mother and child.

Over two centuries ago, Baule originated from Akan in southern Ghana before a secession occurred and the people relocated to Côte d’Ivoire. Sculpting is among the beautiful cultural legacies of the Baule tribe. Among these legacies is this spectacular maternity figurine that symbolises a mother and her child. Putting well-detailed carving into consideration, the maternity figurine represents the ingenuity of a Baule carver. The art depicts the physical and emotional connection between a mother and her offspring. The mother carries her baby while comfortably seated on a stool. The figure is a fine work of art carved out of wood, exhibiting the true love of a mother for her child. Resting the baby’s bottom on her lap, she holds the child safely with her left hand by the back of its head while resting her right-hand fingers on its thighs. Her pointed breasts face downward, giving access to the baby who sucks her left breast.

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