Figure "ikenga" ·  Nigeria, Igbo · ID: 3037585

Description

wood, encrusted brown patina with remains of kaolin, stripes of fabric, characteristic features: crowning horns, machete and head of a venerated ancestor, sacrificial traces, slightly dam., cracks (left side of the body, back of the head, base), minor missing parts (base);
“ikenga” symbolizes the Igbo adult male’s aggressiveness and drive to achievement and success. Before undertaking a venture requiring economic skills or physical prowess the owner makes sacrificial offerings to the “ikenga”, which embodies the spirit of the owner’ s hand. This act of worship assures him the power to accomplish his goal.

The object Figure “ikenga” with the object ID 3037585 was last part of the auction 78th tribal art auction at October 18, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 303 achieved a sales price of EUR 350.

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.