Lot 106A
West Africa, Nigeria, Cross River, Ekoi (Ejagham) / Bakor, ca. 16th to 18th century CE. Hand-carved from a heavy, grey, volcanic stone, this is a figure known as a "Ikom Monolith" or a "Akwanshi" which, in the local language, translates to "dead people." Tall and thin, with relief carving on one side, it depicts an anthropomorphic figure with large, round eyes, and a large, round, deep mouth. Bold outlines circle the eyes, forming heavy brows. Deep lines flow down from the eyes, representing scarification (keloids). A long nose with wide, flat nostrils completes the face. Below the mouth are abstract, diamond-shaped patterns, with a long line that flows down from the mouth, through the centers of the diamonds, to a circle with a raised border that sits inside the bottom-most diamond, representing the belly button. The diamonds probably represent scarification. Size: 6" W x 36.75" H (15.2 cm x 93.3 cm); 38" H (96.5 cm) on included custom stand.
These ancient statues are part of the funerary practices of people from this area; when someone died, for centuries, their family members would place a stone in a family stone circle, facing inward, in memory of the departed. They were partly buried, so that only the body above the belly button is above ground. These are the most elaborately carved large stone sculptures from West Africa, and populate villages for a stretch of nearly 600 miles around the Cross River of southeastern Nigeria. The volcanic stone they are carved from comes from the stone that lines the banks of the river. Not all depict as many details as this one does, but nearly all of the around three hundred examples that have been documented display two key features: the belly button, and the open mouth that indicates speaking or singing of past ceremonies.
Provenance: private Omer Claiborne collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; acquired over the last 40 years
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#129218
- Condition: Surface is weathered, with white pigment / deposits. Nicely preserved form with clear carved features.
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