Large early wooden Yoruba Ibeji twin figures, Nigeria, 19th. cent.
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Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: African: Sculpture: Pre 1910: Item # 1490601
Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: African: Sculpture: Pre 1910: Item # 1490601
$750.00
A very early pair of wooden twins, both males, Yoruba People, Nigeria, 19th. century.
Provenanced to an important collection, we offer a large selection of high-end wooden african figures, all with the original surfaces and elaborate carvings, most dating back to the 19th.-early 20th. century (c. 1880-1930)
The lovely set with large headdresses are both richly adorned with jewelry and kauri shells. This pair of ibeji figures (ibeji means ‘born two’) stands with their hands on their hips naked with their genitals exposed. This pair has much tribal scarcification in their heads and carry a large amount of super old stringed Kauri shells. Interesting early style of carving!
An early pair with an exceptional patina. Both have worn features from age and much handling.
Size: c. 28 cm. tall.
Condition: Choice Very fine with a lovely mahogany patina and smooth wear from extensive worship and use, consistent with the high age for these figures. Age / dry cracks on both figures
Provenance: Ulf Gudmundsen Tribal art collection. Ulf was a Danish collector of Tribal woodcarvings, and his collection was especially rich on high quality Yoruba and Beaulé figures, c. 1950s-2012.
Ex the Danish Tribal arts dealer Lau Sunde, who probably had the best collection of africana ever formed in Scandinavia. Lau Sunde aquired them in the 1950s-60s.
During the 19th century, Yoruba twin figures, known as "ibeji," held significant cultural and spiritual importance within Yoruba society. These twin figures were often created as wooden sculptures or carved from other materials, and they represented deceased twins. The Yoruba believed that these figures housed the spirits of twins who had passed away, and they were cared for and venerated by family members.
The ibeji figures were meticulously crafted, with attention to detail paid to their facial features, hairstyles, and adornments. They were often dressed in clothing and accessories similar to what would have been worn by Yoruba children of that time period. The care and craftsmanship put into these figures reflected the deep respect and reverence the Yoruba had for twins and their spiritual significance.
Family members would offer prayers, sacrifices, and gifts to the ibeji figures, seeking their protection, blessings, and guidance. These rituals were an integral part of Yoruba religious and cultural practices, aimed at maintaining harmony and balance within the community.
The ibeji figures also served as a tangible link between the living and the deceased twins, allowing for continued communication and interaction with their spirits. They were placed in prominent locations within the household, often on altars or shrines, where they were honored and remembered by family members and visitors alike.
Provenanced to an important collection, we offer a large selection of high-end wooden african figures, all with the original surfaces and elaborate carvings, most dating back to the 19th.-early 20th. century (c. 1880-1930)
The lovely set with large headdresses are both richly adorned with jewelry and kauri shells. This pair of ibeji figures (ibeji means ‘born two’) stands with their hands on their hips naked with their genitals exposed. This pair has much tribal scarcification in their heads and carry a large amount of super old stringed Kauri shells. Interesting early style of carving!
An early pair with an exceptional patina. Both have worn features from age and much handling.
Size: c. 28 cm. tall.
Condition: Choice Very fine with a lovely mahogany patina and smooth wear from extensive worship and use, consistent with the high age for these figures. Age / dry cracks on both figures
Provenance: Ulf Gudmundsen Tribal art collection. Ulf was a Danish collector of Tribal woodcarvings, and his collection was especially rich on high quality Yoruba and Beaulé figures, c. 1950s-2012.
Ex the Danish Tribal arts dealer Lau Sunde, who probably had the best collection of africana ever formed in Scandinavia. Lau Sunde aquired them in the 1950s-60s.
During the 19th century, Yoruba twin figures, known as "ibeji," held significant cultural and spiritual importance within Yoruba society. These twin figures were often created as wooden sculptures or carved from other materials, and they represented deceased twins. The Yoruba believed that these figures housed the spirits of twins who had passed away, and they were cared for and venerated by family members.
The ibeji figures were meticulously crafted, with attention to detail paid to their facial features, hairstyles, and adornments. They were often dressed in clothing and accessories similar to what would have been worn by Yoruba children of that time period. The care and craftsmanship put into these figures reflected the deep respect and reverence the Yoruba had for twins and their spiritual significance.
Family members would offer prayers, sacrifices, and gifts to the ibeji figures, seeking their protection, blessings, and guidance. These rituals were an integral part of Yoruba religious and cultural practices, aimed at maintaining harmony and balance within the community.
The ibeji figures also served as a tangible link between the living and the deceased twins, allowing for continued communication and interaction with their spirits. They were placed in prominent locations within the household, often on altars or shrines, where they were honored and remembered by family members and visitors alike.
