Anthropomorphic ritual object "imborivungu"
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Lot: 305
89th Tribal Art AuctionAnthropomorphic ritual object "imborivungu"
Nigeria, Tiv
| Provenance | Size | Starting price / estimated price |
|---|---|---|
| French Private Collection | H: 8.7 inch | This object is not available anymore. |
(human?) bone, clay, abrus seeds, cowrie shells, human hair, base
The traditional use of these objects relates to the legend of a Tiv ancestor known as "poor". According to local legend, his original thigh bone was removed so that his memory would be perpetuated. Over time, the original artifact was lost, and was substituted with relics.
J. Kerchache & J.-L. Paudrat u.a., Die Kunst des Schwarzen Afrika, Freiburg, Basel, Wien 1988, p. 556, ill. 934
