Lot: 305

89e vente aux enchères Tribal Art

Objet rituel anthropomorphe "imborivungu"

Nigéria, Tiv

Provenance Taille Prix d’appel / Prix d'Estimation
French Private Collection H: 22 cm Cet objet n’est plus disponible.

(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