Description:

West Africa, Nigeria, Cross River region, Ibibio culture, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. A matched pair of hand-carved wooden ancestral puppets with mannequin-like torsos, with hand-painted details, nails, and mirror inset eyes. These colonial period figures would have been clothed, and both the legs (now made fixed for display) and missing arms would have moved freely with use during Ekpo Society ceremony and festivals. Rare to find a matched pair! Fabulously rich honey-brown patina! Steel bases. Size: Male figure measures 23" H (58.4 cm); female measures 22"H (55.9 cm).

Provenance: Ex-old private collection, New York and Florida.

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#112468

  • Condition: In excellent condition, though each figure is missing its articulated arms. Expected surface wear and nicks here and there. Lustrous, honey brown patina from use and handling.

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March 8, 2016 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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