Lot 121
West Africa, Yoruba, ca. early 20th century CE. A male "ere ibeji" figure standing with both arms at his sides, carved with an integral base and beautifully adorned with multicolored beads - five strands around his neck and three around his waist - as well as an iron ring around each ankle. He presents with rounded shoulders, a characteristically elongated face delineated with a closed mouth, a full nose, large bulging eyes with metal pupils, cup-shaped ears, scarification marks upon his cheeks, his head crowned with a tall, multi-lobed coiffure highlighted with blue indigo. A wonderful example with a rich dark brown patina and some red pigment remaining on the surface. 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. A wonderful example representing this sacred tradition.
Provenance: Ex - Adeon Gallery, Nick Poolos collection, Chicago, IL acquired before 1970
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#113800
- Condition: Stable age cracks, some loss to back of coiffure and, surface wear as shown.
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