An ancient male waka sona statuette, most likely an asia usu, with a beard formed of three braids and a superb hairstyle finely chiseled into a bun folded to the side. The body and forehead are scarified, and its style with half-moon eyes or its expressive mouth, or the position of its hands and handles, all confirm here, combined with its superb patina, a very beautiful archaic style of classical Baule art. Baule, Ivory Coast Wood, relics of sacrificial materials, accidents and small visible lacks (old breaks), very beautiful patina of use. H. 37 cm Provenance : - Sotheby's sale, New York, May 14, 1981, lot 177. - Collection Nadine Vinot-Postry, Paris.