Baule slingshot

Baule Slingshot 

To the Baule, slingshots were much more than a weapon. They were miniature works of art believed to hold talismanic powers. Baule society is marked by great individualism, dislike of strict political structures, age classes and even secret societies, so prevalent among other tribal cultures. Their artwork can feature subjects ranging from idealized figures to deities and bush spirits in the forms of masks, figurative sculptures and utilitarian objects such as the slingshot. Their art tends to conform to what can be called “Baule style,” often characterized by sturdy legs, a prominent nose, defined eyes, strong brows and distinctly styled tribal coiffures. However, because Baule artisans freely choose, as opposed to inheriting their occupation, it can also be said Baule art is defined by rugged individualism and a sense of artistic freedom rather than restraint. This is most evident in slingshots, which are extraordinarily diverse in what they illustrate.