£500
African & Oceanic Art and Antiquities | 576
Auction: 15 October 2019 at 16:00 BST
carved wood and beads, produced in the style of the Igbuke of Oyo, the male figure standing on an integral base, with the arms held to the sides and scarification to the prominent abdomen, the facial features well defined and with a tall incised coiffure, beads around the waist, wrists and neck
Provenance:
Private collection, United Kingdom
Note:
Amongst the Yoruba, twins are sacred. They considered powerful spirits blessed with the protection of Sango, the god of thunder, capable of bestowing wealth and power or indeed misfortune onto those who do not honour them. Twins are believed to share a single soul, and if one were to die, the surviving sibling would be left with just half a soul. As such, ere ibeji figures are carved and cared for on a daily basis as a representation of the deceased. The present example can be stylistically identified as originating in Oyo and carved by the Igbukes, a noted dynasty of artisans.