Description:

West Africa, Yoruba culture, Ibeji, ca. early 20th century. A nice example of a deceased female twin figure, known as an Ibeji, most likely from Osogbo or the Igbomina region of Yorubaland (spanning Nigeria, Togo, and Benin). This female figure shows darkened, worn, and smooth surfaces which convey the devotion and respect to the Ibeji spirit. Take note of the painstaking attention to details, particularly the elaborately carved coiffure. Size: 3.2" W x 8.65" H (8.1 cm x 22 cm)

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. When a twin dies, a figure dedicated to Ibeji, the deity of twins, is carved to be the earthly abode of the spirit of that twin. Wooden figures, like this one, are created to keep the souls of the twins together.

Provenance: Ex-Adeon Gallery, Chicago, IL, acquired prior to 1970.

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#118689

  • Condition: Repair on base and in several areas around the torso.

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February 9, 2017 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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