Pair of figures from an "anjenu" shrine ·  Nigeria, Idoma · ID: 3030814

Description

light wood, polychrome paint, male/female, the male wears a narrow-brimmed european hat, both he and his spirit wife lean forward, displaying a tense energy, min. dam., rep. (right foot and hand of the female figure), cracks, traces of abrasion;
carved by the artist Ochai of Otobi (died around 1950). Unlike most other artists, Ochai was a full-time sculptor and had commissions from a wide range of villages beyond Otobi. His style is bold and expressive.
Sculptures of the Idoma are quite rare. They were carved as representatives of the kinship line “ekwotame”, or as water- and bush-spirits “anjenu”.

The object Pair of figures from an “anjenu” shrine with the object ID 3030814 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 364.

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Comparing literature

Berns, Marla C. et. al.; Arts of the Benue River Valley, Los Angeles 2011, p. 88 f. Neyt, Francois, The Arts of the Benue, Belgien 1985, p. 113