Anthropomorphic ritual object "imborivungu"
Nigeria, Tiv
not available anymore
Provenance
French Private CollectionSize
H: 22 cm
H: 8.7 inch
Description
(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.
Publications
J. Kerchache & J.-L. Paudrat u.a., Die Kunst des Schwarzen Afrika, Freiburg, Basel, Wien 1988, p. 556, ill. 934AHDRC: 0153720