**Originally Listed At $1600**

West Africa, Nigeria, Igbo or Ijaw people, ca. 19th to mid-20th century CE. A hand-carved wood male Ikenga warrior or chieftain figure seated on a short stool upon an integral cylindric base as a fully realized body that is three-dimensionally rendered on all sides. He is nude with delineated genitalia between his spread legs, prominent navel, and angular head with an impassive expression. He has a short nose with two shallow drilled eyes, thin lips, a bulbous headdress atop his head. Holding a prestige staff in his left hand and possibly a knife or other object in his right- he strikes an imperious pose, and the surface has been painted in a white kaolin pigment. Ancestor worship was practiced by many Nigerian cultures, and carvings were a way to anchor or house the spirits and direct prayer. 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 to be placed on or next to an altar. Size: 7" L x 7" W x 18.5" H (17.8 cm x 17.8 cm x 47 cm)

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection

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#140391

Old inactive insect activity- bore holes and losses especially to base, headdress, and staff. Fissures and abrasions as shown. Figure face and torso is well preserved.