Description:

West Africa, Nigeria, Yoruba peoples, ca. mid-20th century CE. A fabulous, hand-carved wooden staff almost resembling a totem with the figure of a bare-breasted female standing atop the head of a fully-clothed male, all adorned in white and blue pigments. Surmounted by a phallic finial, the female holds a lidded jar, perhaps an offering dish, before her and carries a petite child on her back, while the bearded male wears a conical hat and stands on straight legs with arms to his sides. The bottom of the staff tapers to a metal spike, suggesting it was once stuck into the ground as a post. Resembling the tall house posts used to support the roof of a home, this shorter post would have been placed on a veranda courtyard as a symbolic and decorative element and did not bear weight. Yoruba sculptors often carved images to support the rule of their royal patrons. Size: 4.6" W x 50.4" H (11.7 cm x 128 cm); 51" H (129.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Superior, Colorado, USA collection; ex-Adeon Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, USA acquired prior to 1970

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.

#178082

  • Condition: Professional repair to woman's arms with break lines visible, and stable fissures to wood. Some chipping in areas with expected nicks and abrasions. Nice remaining detail and preservation of pigments, and rich patina throughout.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

April 20, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 26.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000