This wooden bowl comes from the Baule people of Côte d’Ivoire, known for their finely balanced and purposeful utilitarian objects as well as their figural art. Bowls like this were carved from a single piece of wood and used in daily life for food preparation, storage, or serving.
 
The Baule often incorporated subtle detailing even in everyday objects, visible here in the slight notching along the rim. This quiet refinement reflects the Baule approach to art, where beauty and utility are closely linked. While simple in form, such bowls carried importance within the household, connecting everyday sustenance to broader cultural values of care, hospitality, and community.
 
Over time, the surface of the bowl developed a dark patina through regular handling and use, giving it both a tactile presence and a record of its life within Baule society. Today, these bowls stand as enduring reminders of how artistry and functionality coexist in traditional African material culture.