Yoruba, Nigeria: an old ‘Ibeji’ twin figure, with openwork hairstyle consisting of two plaits. Style: Isayin, Oyo region.
Yoruba, Nigeria: an old ‘Ibeji’ twin figure, with openwork hairstyle consisting of two plaits. Style: Isayin, Oyo region.
Such ‘Ibeji’, made of carved wood, are proxy figures among the Yoruba for deceased twins (for a more detailed explanation see cat. no. 54). The present male ‘Ibeji’ figure is stylistically very well carved out of hard wood, dyed dark brown. It displays an openwork hairstyle consisting of two plaits (which is rare), typical tribal decorative scarification marks on the forehead, as well as on both temples and cheeks. The figure is adorned with a necklace of blue glass beads, two bangles of coloured glass beads, as well as with a strand of pierced cowrie shells on its left arm. Its body, and the round base on which it stands, bear traces of a red sacrificial paste of powdered redwood. A small, age-related loss to the hairstyle and to the right arm, both on the back. Otherwise no damage. An ‘Ibeji’ with beautiful, shiny usage patina due to the long ‘nurturing’ of this proxy figure.
Height: 26 cm.
First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
Austrian private collection.
Lit.:
‘Ibeji. The Cult of Yoruba Twins’ by George Chemeche, ill. 47, 50, 51.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
20.02.2017 - 14:00
- Realized price: **
-
EUR 500.-
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 400.-
Yoruba, Nigeria: an old ‘Ibeji’ twin figure, with openwork hairstyle consisting of two plaits. Style: Isayin, Oyo region.
Such ‘Ibeji’, made of carved wood, are proxy figures among the Yoruba for deceased twins (for a more detailed explanation see cat. no. 54). The present male ‘Ibeji’ figure is stylistically very well carved out of hard wood, dyed dark brown. It displays an openwork hairstyle consisting of two plaits (which is rare), typical tribal decorative scarification marks on the forehead, as well as on both temples and cheeks. The figure is adorned with a necklace of blue glass beads, two bangles of coloured glass beads, as well as with a strand of pierced cowrie shells on its left arm. Its body, and the round base on which it stands, bear traces of a red sacrificial paste of powdered redwood. A small, age-related loss to the hairstyle and to the right arm, both on the back. Otherwise no damage. An ‘Ibeji’ with beautiful, shiny usage patina due to the long ‘nurturing’ of this proxy figure.
Height: 26 cm.
First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
Austrian private collection.
Lit.:
‘Ibeji. The Cult of Yoruba Twins’ by George Chemeche, ill. 47, 50, 51.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 20.02.2017 - 14:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 11.02. - 20.02.2017 |
** Purchase price incl. buyer's premium and VAT
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