Anthropomorphic figure in volcanic stone African tribal art Ivory Coast 18th century

An anthropomorphic sculpture carved from a block of volcanic rock, found buried in Côte d'Ivoire. This standing figure with stylized features has a face with sunken eyes, a straight nose, and a protruding mouth. The figure appears to be holding a rounded object—possibly an offering, a jar, or a fertility symbol—in a frontal posture characteristic of African ritual art. The 18th-century dating is based on surface wear, style, and the context of discovery. This work would have had a spiritual or funerary function: a protective figure, a deified ancestor, or an object of worship. Although wood carving dominates in West Africa, some local traditions also produced stone works in sacred contexts. This piece demonstrates the richness of traditional artistic expression in Côte d'Ivoire before the major changes of the colonial era.