Pair of twin figures "hohovi" · Benin, Ewe · ID: 3040921
sold
EUR 275
Provenance
Henricus Simonis, Düsseldorf, GermanyHans Reinmöller, Ratingen, Germany (1989)
Size
H: 14,5 cm resp. 15 cm
H: 5.7 inch resp. 5.9 inch
Description
wood, light patina, remains of pigments, simplified bodies, abraded facial features, min. dam., small missing parts, bases;
in ancient Africa, twins were considered of supernatural origin. In some African communities, the newly-born twins had to be killed because they appeared to be a threat to the society. Others regarded them as welcome new members - highly respected - like the Yoruba and the Ewe-speaking people in Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana.