Old Baule Comb – Côte d’Ivoire / Ivory Coast

Wood, gilded with gold leaf. Height: 15 cm (5.91″); Weight: 16.2 g (0.57 oz).

Baule combs from Ivory Coast are finely carved wooden objects, often adorned with geometric motifs, and traditionally used both for grooming and as symbols of beauty and social status.

The Baule are one of the largest ethnic groups in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), belonging to the Akan cultural family. Historically, they migrated from present-day Ghana in the 18th century. The Baule are renowned for their sophisticated art traditions, including wooden masks, statues, and finely carved combs, which often carry symbolic meanings related to beauty, fertility, and spiritual beliefs. Their society is organized around agriculture, with strong cultural emphasis on aesthetics, craftsmanship, and ancestral veneration.

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