Mixed lot (3 items): Yoruba, Nigeria: three small heads made of ivory, named ‘Ikin Ifa’, that represent the god Eshu and were used for the Ifa oracle. A
Mixed lot (3 items): Yoruba, Nigeria: three small heads made of ivory, named ‘Ikin Ifa’, that represent the god Eshu and were used for the Ifa oracle. A
mong the Yoruba people in Nigeria, if the special divination priest (the ‘Babalawo’) delivers the Ifa oracle, he must place a miniature head of the god Eshu next to his divination board (‘Opon Ifa’). This is because only the presence of the god Eshu gives the priest the assurance that, in this case, all other appropriate gods (‘Orisha’) are in attendance and therefore his oracle will be accurate and successful. The three present old ‘Ikin Ifa’ heads represent the god Eshu, identifiable from the braid on the back of his head. Traditionally these Eshu heads are always made of ivory. All three ‘Ikin Ifa’ show a good, shiny usage patina. No damage. Height: 7.5 cm; 7 cm; 6.5 cm. Between the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. (ME) ASA
Provenance:
Kegel-Konietzko Collection, Hamburg; currently: German private collection.
Lit.:
'Yoruba. Sculpture of West Africa' by William Fagg & John Pemberton III., p. 40, fig. 43.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
09.06.2016 - 17:00
- Realized price: **
-
EUR 625.-
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 300.-
Mixed lot (3 items): Yoruba, Nigeria: three small heads made of ivory, named ‘Ikin Ifa’, that represent the god Eshu and were used for the Ifa oracle. A
mong the Yoruba people in Nigeria, if the special divination priest (the ‘Babalawo’) delivers the Ifa oracle, he must place a miniature head of the god Eshu next to his divination board (‘Opon Ifa’). This is because only the presence of the god Eshu gives the priest the assurance that, in this case, all other appropriate gods (‘Orisha’) are in attendance and therefore his oracle will be accurate and successful. The three present old ‘Ikin Ifa’ heads represent the god Eshu, identifiable from the braid on the back of his head. Traditionally these Eshu heads are always made of ivory. All three ‘Ikin Ifa’ show a good, shiny usage patina. No damage. Height: 7.5 cm; 7 cm; 6.5 cm. Between the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. (ME) ASA
Provenance:
Kegel-Konietzko Collection, Hamburg; currently: German private collection.
Lit.:
'Yoruba. Sculpture of West Africa' by William Fagg & John Pemberton III., p. 40, fig. 43.
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 |
** Purchase price incl. buyer's premium and VAT
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