This wooden bowl originates from the Baule people of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. Baule bowls like this were traditionally used for storing or serving food, as well as holding ritual items such as kola nuts, offerings, or other materials during ceremonies. The circular form and low profile suggest it was intended for practical, horizontal use, placed either on the ground or on a low surface.
 
The Baule are part of the larger Akan cultural group and are known for a rich artistic heritage that includes sculpture, textiles, and metalwork. Their material culture reflects both daily use and spiritual function. Household objects, including bowls, often had dual purposes: utilitarian and symbolic. Even in ordinary items, form and proportion were carefully considered, reflecting a worldview in which beauty, balance, and function were interconnected.
 
Baule society is organized around matrilineal clans and local village leadership. Religious practices among the Baule include reverence for nature spirits (asye usu), ancestral spirits, and bush spirits, and many art forms, such as sculptures and masks—are tied to divination and healing rituals. While bowls like this were not necessarily used for spiritual purposes, they were part of the same cultural environment in which both utility and ritual coexisted.
 
The wear on the surface of this piece is consistent with years of use, indicating that it was once an active part of domestic or ceremonial life.