West Africa, Yoruba, ca. early 20th century CE. A female "ere ibeji" figure standing with both arms and exceptionally large hands at her sides upon an integral base. She presents with large, projecting breasts and perhaps pregnant belly, angled shoulders, an elongated face delineated with full lips, a petite nose, large bulging eyes,intricately delineated ears, diamond shaped scarification marks on her cheeks, crowned with a tall and elaborately incised coiffure composed of two upswept sections. A wonderful example with nice patina from use and handling. The Yoruba have traditionally had a high rate of multiple births and have always valued twins as special. When one twin dies, a figure dedicated to Ibeji, the deity of twins, is carved to be the earthly abode of the spirit of that twin. The figure is then nurtured by the mother and/or the surviving twin. 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. Further, the deceased's soul must have a place to reside. Hence, a figure dedicated to Ibeji is carved to shelter the spirit of the deceased twin. Size: 9.625" H (24.4 cm)

Provenance: Ex - Adeon Gallery, Nick Poolos collection, Chicago, IL acquired before 1970

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#113801

Stable age cracks with old chip to base as shown.