Dance vestment from five "eshu" - figures · Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3038958
Description
wood, thick encrusted layer of black patina, indigo blue paint, male and female, arranged side by side, fixed by leather bands in the neck area and at the bottom, thirteen strings of cowrie shells attached along lower rim, slightly dam., fine cracks, abrasion of paint, metal base;
these dance vestments are a combination of various pairs of dance staffs for “eshu”. They are worn on a strap over the left shoulder while dancing at the annual “eshu” festival.
The object Dance vestment from five “eshu” - figures with the object ID 3038958 was last part of the auction 80th Tribal Art Auction at June 27, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 363 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,000.
You can find more Figures and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.
Comparing literature
Witte, Hans, A Closer Look, Berg en Dal 2004, p. 110, ill. 101