Early shrine figure "ikenga", 19th century · Nigeria, Igbo · ID: 3052645
German Private Collection
Dorotheum, Vienna, Austria, 4 December 2018, lot 81
Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, Germany, 16 November 2019, lot 197
Description
wood, pigments, sacrificial traces, rest., base
Ikenga (= “Place of Strength”) symbolizes the Igbo adult male’s aggressiveness and drive to achievement and success in all areas of life. Before undertaking a venture requiring economic skills or physical prowess the owner makes sacrificial offerings to the “ikenga”. This act of worship assures him the power to accomplish his goal.
A striking and rare feature of this figure is the carved heads that encircle the main head of the “ikenga”. They appear to concentrate the power of the ancestors. For a comparable figure, see AHDRC 0093427.
The object Early shrine figure “ikenga”, 19th century with the object ID 3052645 was part of the auction Auction 105 on November 15, 2025. The object with the lot number 307 achieved a sales price of EUR 4,700 with an asking price of EUR 4,500.
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