Zemanek-Münster

Headdress "oglinye"

Nigeria, Idoma, Ochai of Otobi or Ojiji Igumale
sold EUR 3,200
Provenance
Pierre Harter, Paris, France
Size
H: 27 cm
H: 10.6 inch

Description

wood, kaolin, plant fibre, base

The present headdress shows great similarities with two “oglinye” heads depicted in a treatise by Kasfir on Idoma artists (cf. Berns, 2011, p. 91, A.8).

One of these heads was photographed by Roy Sieber in 1958 and attributed to the artist Ochai of Otobi (deceased around 1950). Kasfir, on the other hand, attributes both heads to the artist Ojiji Igumale (deceased 1984). The latter was the younger of the two and is said to have known Ochai’s work because he also lived in the village of Otobi.


Comparing literature

Berns, Marla C. et. al., Arts of the Benue River Valley, Los Angeles 2011, p. 91, A.6 - A.8

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