Male twin figure "ere ibeji" in cowrie snail cape ·  Nigeria, Yoruba, Oyo · ID: 3032372

Description

wood, brown patina, encrusted with camwood powder, remains of indigo blue paint at the coiffure, metal tag eyes, angular scarification marks, a coat made of several layers of cotton fabric, in dense rows embroidered with cowrie snails, slightly dam.;
the lovely cowrie coat indicates that this “ibeji” must have belonged to a wealthy family which could afford this expensive article of clothing. Cowrie snails in former times represented a mean of payment all over africa. In this case they are also a symbol for wealth, which is for the Yoruba people combined with twins.

The object Male twin figure “ere ibeji” in cowrie snail cape with the object ID 3032372 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 396 achieved a sales price of EUR 750.

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Comparing literature

Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, ill. 59