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THBVery Fine African Carved Wooden Ibeji Figure
Lot 232
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:
$900 - $1,350
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Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Aug 16, 2018
Set Reminder
2018-08-16 10:00:00
2018-08-16 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Clearance Sale - Ancient / Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/clearance-sale---ancient-ethnographic-art-3368
These lots are going, going, gone... plus a nice selection of lots brand-new to auction! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
These lots are going, going, gone... plus a nice selection of lots brand-new to auction! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (397)
- Lot Description
**Originally Listed At $500**
West Africa, Nigeria, Yoruba peoples, ca. early to mid 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 base. He presents with delineated genitalia, rounded shoulders, an elongated face delineated with large bulging eyes, a pronounced nose, pointy ears, and scarification marks on his cheeks, all crowned with a tall and elaborately-incised coiffure with liberal remains of its original indigo-blue pigment. A finely carved, bas relief triangular shield ornament decorates his chest and back. His body is also adorned with red cinnabar, and he is bedecked with three strands of beads (2 with black beads, 1 with multicolored red, white, and blue beads) around his waist and one (with claret red beads) around his neck. A wonderful example with nice patina from use and handling. Size: 12.25" H (31.1 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: private New York, New York, USA collection
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.
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#132291Stable age cracks commensurate with age. Normal surface wear with slight losses to edges of coiffure. Nice remains of cobalt blue pigment on coiffure and red cinnabar on the body. Wonderful patina from age and handling.Condition
- Shipping Info
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