Male twin figure "ere ibeji" · Nigeria, Yoruba, Oyo, Shaki · ID: 3046363
Peter Willborg, Stockholm, Sweden
Description
wood, indigo blue pigment, camwood powder, glass beads, coconut discs, insect caused damage
This “ibeji” captivates by its minimalistic form and the facial features heavily rubbed by repeated feeding procedures.
“Ibeji” figures are supposed to remind of deceased twins. They act as a home for the soul of the dead child and they were cared for just as the surviving child.
The figure is handsomely dressed and decorated with chains and rings, washed and anointed (with a mixture of finely ground redwood and palm oil) at least once a week (normally on fridays), and when the mother takes the twin to her breast, the “ibeji” gets his portion too.
The object Male twin figure “ere ibeji” with the object ID 3046363 was last part of the auction 94th Tribal Art Auction at March 7, 2020 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 52 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000.
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Comparing literature
Stoll, Gert & Mareidi, Ibeji, Zwillingsfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, p. 245, ill. 134
Publications
AHDRC: 0170736