Fine Early 20th C. African Yoruba Ibeji Figure

**Originally Listed At $275**

West Africa, Yoruba culture, Ibeji, ca. early 20th century. A hand-carved wooden twin Ibeji figure, most likely from Osogbo or the Igbomina region of Yorubaland (spanning Nigeria, Togo, and Benin), presenting large ears, a prominent nose, scarification marks, eyes and mouth suggested via negative carving, and a tall, conical coiffure with incised hair colored with deep blue indigo pigment. The figure is also decorated with beaded jewelry and has nubbin breasts and an outie belly button. Size: 12" H (30.5 cm); 12.75" H (32.4 cm) on included custom stand.

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 these are created to keep the souls of the twins together.

Provenance: Estate of R. Pearson, Denver, Colorado, USA; Mr. Pearson collected from the third quarter of the 20th century until he passed away.

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.

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#144877
Condition Report: Age cracks and expected surface wear with scuffs and abrasions commensurate with age. Wonderful lustrous patina and much blue indigo pigment remaining on the coiffure.