Pair of twin figures "ere ibeji" from the "Master of the smiling face" · Nigeria, Yoruba, Igbomina, Ila Orangun · ID: 3038519
Dieter Eulenburg, Dreieich, Germany
Description
wood, reddish brown patina, small remains of black and red pigment, male/female, distinctive faces with laughing mouth, each carved with islamic triangle “tirah” on breast and back and with prominent sexual characteristics, slightly dam., missing parts (left hand of the male/coiffure of the female figure), min. insect caused damage (female), abrasion;
representing an especially likeable type, a particular favourite of collectors, known as the “smiling” type. From the “Master of the smiling face” from Ila Orangun.
The object Pair of twin figures “ere ibeji” from the “Master of the smiling face” with the object ID 3038519 was part of the auction 80th Tribal Art Auction on June 27, 2015. The object with the lot number 181 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,400 with an asking price of EUR 2,500.
You can find more Figures and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.
Comparing literature
Polo, Fausto, Enzyklopädie der Ibeji, 2008, ill. 559 Stoll, Gert, Ibeji, Zwillingfiguren der Yoruba, München 1980, p. 293