Description:

West Africa, Nigeria, Igbo peoples, ca. early 20th century CE. A finely-aged example of a horned anthropomorphic wooden shrine figure known as an "ikenga." In Igbo society, the Ikenga is a ritual object that symbolizes masculine strength as well as the ability to achieve great things using one's own efforts. Simple forms of these figures are merely horns projecting from a wooden block, with the horns symbolizing the aggression of the male animal. This is a more realized figure with a head and vague body shape, carved three-dimensionally with details on all sides, with a conical base and a pair of tall horns on top. The figure has been painted with an earthy-brown pigment, with remnants of deep red paint still visible, and small reed straps adorn these projections. Size: 10" H (25.4 cm).

Provenance: ex-Nick Poolos collection, Adeon Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, USA acquired before 1970

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#113585

  • Condition: Age-commensurate surface wear, several small hairline fissures, remnants of original red and brown pigmentation, small chips and losses around peripheries, otherwise very good.

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January 18, 2018 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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$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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000