BAOULE CEREMONIAL SWORD, Ivory Coast Wood with brown patina, wrought iron. L. 53,5 cm The curved and forged blade is openwork with geometrical motifs, the handle carved with a representation in the round of an elephant as stylized as poetic. Two faces and two crabs with a careful description are then carved in bas-relief under the guard. The meticulous hatching work on the whole, formerly plated with fine gold leaf, allowed the light to sparkle on the latter. The quality of the sculpture of this regalia, whose general shape attests to an Akan influence from Ghana, is very good.

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