Maternité ·  Nigeria, Igbo/Izzi · ID: 3036689

Description

wood, whitened with kaolin, black paint at the coiffure, small remains of red colour, both arms and the child worked separately and attached by nails, the right hand projecting to the front, presumably once presenting an object to the beholder, slightly dam., strong abrasion of paint, encrusted with clay, rep. (right arm/shoulder), base;
reminding of a rare female “ikenga” figure of the Igbo. Accordingly she once must have held a club in her right hand. A child and a club, emphasizing the females role as mother and protector of her offspring.

The object Maternité with the object ID 3036689 was last part of the auction 76th tribal art auction at March 22, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 450.

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Comparing literature

Wittmer, Marcilene K. & William Arnett, Three Rivers of Nigeria, Atlanta 1978, p. 8, ill. 8