Description:

West Africa, Nigeria, Yoruba peoples, mid to late 20th century CE. A brightly painted wooden totem, hand-carved, with a woman who stands tall, holding her breasts and wearing a massive blue headdress. Atop the headdress is a grotesque head with zoomorphic features - huge, pointed ears, a small, round nose, and giant pointed teeth. Comes with custom stand. Size: 2.35" W x 17.55" H (6 cm x 44.6 cm)

The woman has classic Yoruban features including very wide eyes; lines incised on her face may indicate ritual face paint. She wears a simple skirt, painted cream, like the rest of her body and face. She stands on a platform atop a long cylindrical handle; this is all painted the same bright blue as the headdress. The Yoruba - roughly 20% of Nigeria's population - are known for their wood carving skills - nearly every surface in a Yoruban village has a carved wood decoration.

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

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#119109

  • Condition: Small loss to ears of headdress, with a great deal of remaining pigment.

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January 19, 2017 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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