This is the rating and price for Very Fine African Carved Wooden Ibeji Figure

Description : 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. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #132291
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Estimate (low-high) : 900 USD-1400 USD It's free to register now to view!

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