"Eshu" triple ·  Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3033696

Description

wood, fabric, leather, metal, brass bells, three “eshu” figures with the typical neck lobe, arranged side by side, wrapped in a cowrie cape with cowrie shell strings projecting from the lower rim, remains of a knotted leather band for support, slightly dam.;
worn by a female worshipper of “eshu” (compare S. Eisenhofer, 1979, p. 272). The male deity of “eshu” (or “eshu elegba”) played an important role in Yoruba religion. No sacrifice could ever be made without granting a gift to “eshu”, because he was looked upon as a mediator between the humans and the deities.

The object “Eshu” triple with the object ID 3033696 was last part of the auction 71st tribal art auction at November 24, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 302.

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Comparing literature

Eisenhofer, Stefan (Hg.), Kulte, Künstler, Könige in Afrika, Linz 1997, p. 274, ill. III/9.2