Baule Gbekre Se Oracle Box

Item Details

Baule, Côte d’Ivoire
Untitled (Gbekre se)
Wooden box with cloth rope
Unmarked

Used as a conduit for a local oracle, Gbekre se literally translates to ‘mouse’ in the Baule language. Mice were thought of as magical and mystical creatures who maintained a connection with the spirit world. Gbekre se contain a small hole on the inside where a mouse would tunnel into and disrupt and move the small sticks and other objects. The oracle would then divine information for the local community based on his interpretations of the mouses patterns.

Condition

- all present conditions are consistent and typical for African art and antiquities; bottom of box has been boarded up.

Dimensions

Item #

ITMG073637