Marionette · Nigeria, Eket/Ibibio · ID: 3036647
Gerard Verdijk (1934-2005) and Josephine Sloet, The Netherlands
Description
wood, matt and slightly encrusted blackish brown patina, post-like base with a partly hollowed back and drilled holes for attachment, carved with a bulky octahedral platform which is crowned by an anthropomorphic head, neck with “barbed band”, min. traces of insect caused damage, cracks, base;
the Eket are a small ethnic group who lives in about 45 villages near the more numerous Ibibio in southeastern Nigeria. Puppets like the present one are used during funerals, certain festivities, and in plays of the so-called “Akan” theatre.
The object Marionette with the object ID 3036647 was last part of the auction 76th tribal art auction at March 22, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 430 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000.
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Comparing literature
Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, Munich 2009, p. 210 Yale Archive No, 0090309 (comparable object)