This is a striking pair of hand-carved wooden busts believed to be in the style of the Baule people of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa. Depicting a male and female figure, each bust features traditional stylized detailing—serene facial expressions, elongated necks, and intricately carved headdresses, with a sense of ancestral dignity and symbolic balance between the two.
Each piece is carved from extremely dense, heavy hardwood—possibly mahogany or a regional tropical hardwood—with visible aging, tool marks, and rich surface patina. Neither bust is signed, and there is no known provenance, though they may date back to the mid-20th century or earlier.
These busts may have served a decorative or spiritual role, representing ancestral figures or spirit spouses. Their craftsmanship and material suggest they were not made for mass tourism but as meaningful carvings within or adjacent to traditional Baule artistic practices.