Online catalogue for the 60th tribal art auction

158 Female twin figure "venavi"

This object is not available any more.

Togo, Ewe

wood, brown patina, blackened in parts, string of glass beads, dominated by broad shoulders, a disc-shaped, flattened facial plane and a coiffure with neck plait, min. dam., slight signs of abrasion; alike the "ibeji" figures of the Yoruba, the "venavi" figures were carved for deceased twins or triplets. They serve as abode for the spirit of the deceased. The Ewe women used to care for them, they were fed, washed and caressed. For the Ewe venerate twins and look upon them as connection to the otherworld.

H: 21,5 cm
H: 8.5 inch

Provenance
Gall. Aalderink, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Literature
Simonis, Henricus, Ewe, Twin figures, Köln 2008, p. 54

Price: 1000 - 2500 €

222 Pair of twin figures "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Abeokuta, Egba

wood, dark brown patina with traces of black paint, a male and a female figure with regular, nearly ornamental arranged facial features, scarification marks and pierced pupils, slightly dam. (coiffure, forehead, ears, mouth, hands), abrasion; the small missing parts in the mouth area possibly traces of symbolic feeding procedures.

H: 25,5 cm
H: 10 inch

Sold.

223 Female pair of twin figures "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Abeokuta

wood, light brown patina, encrusted with "osun", black and indigo blue paint at the coiffure, exuberantly decorated with pearl necklaces and metal rings, expressive heads with high towering coiffures, big eyes with nailheads, accentuated breasts, slightly dam., missing parts (ear of one of the figures), cracks (heads of both figures)

H: 27 cm resp. 27,5 cm
H: 10.6 inch resp. 10.8 inch

Literature
Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, p. 50 f.
Chemeche, George, Ibeji, The Cult of Yoruba Twins, Mailand 2003, ill. 251 f.

Sold.

224 Pair of twin figures "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba

wood, reddish brown patina, encrusted with "osun" (mixture of finely ground redwood and palm oil), a male and a female figure, their bodies nearly identical modelled, provided with crown-like coiffures and nail heads as pupils, linear incised scarification marks, strings with coconut discs and metal rings attached, slightly dam. (mouth of the male figure), hairline cracks (faces), missing parts through insect caused damage (left side of the males body, base of the female); as the Yoruba believe that twins have a combined, inseparable soul, the moment one of the twin dies, the life of the other is immediately imperiled, because the balance of his soul is seriously disturbed. Therefore an artisan is ordered to carve a small wooden figure to serve as new abode for the soul of the deceased. The "babalawo" performs the traditional ritual of transferring the soul into the wooden figure. They are called "ere ibeji". The Yoruba word "ibeji" means "twin", "ere" = "sacred image".

H: 28 cm
H: 11 inch

Provenance
Gert Stoll, Berchtesgaden, Germany

Published in
Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, p. 258, ill. 144

Price: 4000 - 8000 €

225 Male twin figure "ere ibeji" with cowrie snail cape

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Oyo, Igbuke style

wood, red and dark brown patina, small traces of indigo blue paint, the body with massive shoulders and handle-shaped arms hidden underneath a firm coat of multi-layered cotton fabric embroidered with cowrie snails, the narrow head crowned by a fine grooved high towering coiffure, showing the typical "Oyo"mouth and tribe-typical scarification marks, slightly dam., small missing parts (backside at the coiffure), washing patina on the face, the coat slightly dam., some cowries missing; more than anywhere else, "ibeji" from Oyo can be found wearing cowry coats. Cowry shells were once legal tender in West Africa, and this gesture is an indication of the high regard paid to the deceased by his family, and the wealth of the family as well.

H: 31,5 cm
H: 12.4 inch

Literature
Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, p. 156 f.
Chemeche, George, Ibeji, The Cult of Yoruba Twins, Mailand 2003, ill. 1

Sold.

226 Male twin figure "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Shaki

wood, brown patina, residues of black paint, camwood powder "osun", kaolin, a slender body with square shoulders and straight arms, crowned by a narrow, triangular head with chin beard and big, pierced eyes framed by eyelashes, linear scarification marks in the area of shoulder and abdomen, paint rubbed off, minor missing parts at the coiffure

H: 28 cm
H: 11 inch

Sold.

227 Female twin figures "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Igbomina

wood, reddish brown patina, black paint and residues of indigo blue paint a the coiffure, distinctive heads with broad jaw and flat chin, filed incisors, lancet-shaped scarification marks on the cheeks, pierced pupils, strings of glass beads and coconut discs around neck and hips, rest. (breast); for a comparable pair see G. Stoll, Ibeji, 1980, ill. 192. Possibly in the style of the carver Dagikonle of Igbomole. Igbomina names a tribe with Ila Orangun as capital, which, along with - Abeokuta, Oshogbo and Ekiti - forms one of the most important centres of traditional Yoruba wood carving.

H: 31cm resp. 32 cm
H: 12.2 inch resp. 12.6 inch

Literature
Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, ill. 192

Sold.

228 Female pair of twin figures "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Shaki

wood, light-brown patina, indigo blue paint at the coiffure, encrusted with clay, nearly identical modelled slender bodies with closed contours, the facial features strongly abraded, exuberant decor with strings of miniature glass beads and coconut discs, strings with cowrie snails around the wrists, slightly dam., cracks (trunk and head of one of the figures right hand side), minor missing parts (ears), hairline cracks; the figures bare the name of the deceased. The small bead necklaces are presents for the "substitute twin". For the Yoruba the birth of twins promised wealth and prosperity, which is symbolized by the attached strings of cowrie snails .

H: 25 cm resp. 25,5 cm
H: 9.8 inch resp. 10 inch

Sold.

229 Pair of male twin figures "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Ila

wood, reddish brown patina, black and indigo blue paint, encrusted with camwood powder, strings of glass beads and coconut discs, as well as plaited plant fibre strings attached, of slender, closed contours, with the arms arranged straight aside the body, the male gender accentuated, on breast and back carved with the Islamic triangle, the heads elongated, with big eyes and high towering crested coiffure, slightly dam., hairline cracks, paint rubbed off, small traces of insect caused damage (coiffure); upon the death of both twins there would be no need to make wooden figures, if the only aspect under consideration is the unity of the soul. However, as supernatural powers are attributed to the twins, they are even stronger than their ancestors in providing the mother and family with protection. Another reason these figures are made after the death of both twins is the fact that the mother of twins enjoys certain privileges. She carries the "ibeji" around with her, as a kind of medal, identifying her status as mother of twins. This will assure her special treatment and little presents.

H: 33 cm
H: 13 inch

Provenance
Gert Stoll, Berchtesgaden, Germany

Published in
Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, p. 298, ill. 193

Sold.

230 Male pair of twin figures "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Shaki

wood, dull reddish brown patina, traces of black paint (coiffure) and kaolin, nearly identical formed compact bodies with massive, broad shoulders and handle-shaped arms, weighty heads with bow-shaped coiffures and angle-shaped scarification marks, black pupils, pearl strings around waist and wrist, missing parts through insect caused damage (bow-shaped lobe of one of the figures, both bases)

H: 24,5 cm resp. 26 cm
H: 9.6 inch resp. 10.2 inch

Literature
Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, ill. 136

Sold.

231 Female twin figure "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Ijebu-Ode

wood, dark brown patina, black paint at the coiffure, strings with glass beads, metal rings, extravagant figure, characterized by a big head and voluminous handle-shaped arms, the face designed in round forms, the facial expression with the big teeth revealing mouth amicable, slightly dam., minor missing parts, paint rubbed off

H: 27,5 cm
H: 10.8 inch

Literature
Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, ill. 53

Price: 2000 - 4000 €

232 Female twin figure "ere ibeji"

This object is not available any more.

Nigeria, Yoruba, Area of Ila

wood, reddish brown patina, traces of black and indigo blue paint, kaolin, special details: the high sandals, oversized breasts and filed incisors, eyes with inserted metal tags, the big ears situated rather low, the incised scarification marks accentuated with kaolin, slightly dam., paint rubbed off (coiffure backside), place of repair (right foot); presumably in the style of the carver Dagikonle of Igbomole (compare G. Stoll, Ibeji, München 1980, ill. 192).

H: 30 cm
H: 11.8 inch

Sold.