Female figure "ihambe"

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Description

wood, missing parts, rep., base

The Tiv carved large “ihambe” statues, both male and female, which are placed to the right of the front door of the house. In addition they also have such smaller statues, like the present one, which were kept inside the house.

Both types of figures are associated with marriage, female fertility, the fertility of the soil, and the “akombo” - the tutelary ancestors who protect families from evil spells.

They remain in the same family group under the supervision of the mother or of her daughter-in-law, should she die.

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Comparing literature

Neyt, Francois, The Arts of the Benue, Michigan 1985, p.p. 188, ill. IV.28 Lebas, Alain (ed.), Arts of Nigeria in French Private Collections, Milan 2012, p. 281

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