Ibo (or Igbo), Nigeria: sculpture of a female, ‘divine’ being named ‘Alusi’, in the northern, ‘round’ style of the Ibo.
Ibo (or Igbo), Nigeria: sculpture of a female, ‘divine’ being named ‘Alusi’, in the northern, ‘round’ style of the Ibo.
The Ibo (or Igbo), in the southeast of Nigeria, have a rich pantheon with numerous gods. According to the Ibo, these gods live a very ‘human’ life in their own world: with a family, children etc. These numerous families of gods are represented by the Ibo carvers in sculptures that are placed in shrines and worshipped by believers. The present 'Alusi-figure' is carved from hard, heavy wood and clearly shows the ‘round’, softer style of the Ibo in their northern area of settlement (the southern Ibo figures are more ‘angular’).
This female shrine figure bears a typical, tall crested coiffure, as well characteristic scarification marks on her chest and abdomen, around the accentuated navel. There are some remains of sacrificial offerings of red earth (ochre). Two pieces have broken off on the back, however it displays a good, partly shiny patina. Height: 89 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
Austrian private collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
09.06.2016 - 17:00
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 1,400.-
Ibo (or Igbo), Nigeria: sculpture of a female, ‘divine’ being named ‘Alusi’, in the northern, ‘round’ style of the Ibo.
The Ibo (or Igbo), in the southeast of Nigeria, have a rich pantheon with numerous gods. According to the Ibo, these gods live a very ‘human’ life in their own world: with a family, children etc. These numerous families of gods are represented by the Ibo carvers in sculptures that are placed in shrines and worshipped by believers. The present 'Alusi-figure' is carved from hard, heavy wood and clearly shows the ‘round’, softer style of the Ibo in their northern area of settlement (the southern Ibo figures are more ‘angular’).
This female shrine figure bears a typical, tall crested coiffure, as well characteristic scarification marks on her chest and abdomen, around the accentuated navel. There are some remains of sacrificial offerings of red earth (ochre). Two pieces have broken off on the back, however it displays a good, partly shiny patina. Height: 89 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
Austrian private collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art - Africa |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 09.06.2016 - 17:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 04.06. - 09.06.2016 |