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THBEarly 20th C. African Wood Yoruba Ibeji Figure - Male
Lot 118b
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$600 - $900
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| $300 | $50 |
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| $20,000 | $2,500 |
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| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Jul 19, 2018
Set Reminder
2018-07-19 10:00:00
2018-07-19 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities/Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographic-art-3329
Featuring classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe, plus fine art. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Featuring classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe, plus fine art. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (395)
- Lot Description
Western Africa, Nigeria, Yoruba peoples, ca. early 20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden male "ere ibeji" figure, most likely from Oshogbo or the Igbomina region of Yorubaland (spanning Nigeria, Togo, and Benin), standing with both arms at his sides upon an integral circular base. The figure presents with thick thighs, broad feet, and delineated genitalia, with rounded shoulders and a thick neck defining his powerful stature. The stylized head has large bulging eyes with metal pupils, a wide, low-relief nose, cupped ears, and scarification marks on his cheeks, all crowned with a tall and elaborately-incised coiffure with remnants of its original indigo-blue pigment. A fabulous example! Size: 2.5" W x 7.75" H (6.4 cm x 19.7 cm).
The Yoruba have traditionally had a high rate of multiple births and have always valued twins as special. When one twin dies, a figure dedicated to Ibeji, - the deity of twins - is carved to be the earthly abode of the spirit of that twin. The figure is then nurtured by the mother and/or the surviving twin. The Yoruba have one of the highest number of twin births in the world, four times higher than in Europe, for example. Ibeji are known to the Yoruba as two people who share one soul. If one of the human twins dies, whether as a child or an adult, the surviving human twin is considered to have little hope of living with only half a soul. Further, the deceased's soul must have a place to reside. Hence, a figure dedicated to Ibeji is carved to shelter the spirit of the deceased twin.
Provenance: ex-private Sarkisian collection, Denver, Colorado, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
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#136405Surface wear and minor abrasions commensurate with age, light fading to finer carved details, very minor nicks to base and coiffure, with one hairline fissure along figure's right arm and hand, otherwise intact and very good. Nice earthen deposits throughout. Great traces of original indigo-blue pigmentation on coiffure.Condition
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