Post figure "wundul" or "dumbun" · Nigeria, Wurkun · ID: 3033516
American Collection, New York
Description
wood, reddish brown patina, encrusted in some areas, of characteristic form, missing parts through insect caused damage at the base, inscribed on the back: “F 151”, on pedestal;
the Wurkun are well-known for their pairs of male-female figures on iron spikes. Their function is to ensure the well-being of the owner and his family, with a special orientation towards the fertility of the crops. In most cases they were set up in the fields outside the teepee-like structure made of a grass mat, with a large pot for sacrifices nearby. Others were established on shrines within the owner’s compound like the Chambas “tauwa” figures and, like them, were used for curing illness by divination.
The object Post figure “wundul” or “dumbun” with the object ID 3033516 was last part of the auction 70th tribal art auction at September 8, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 314 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200.
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Comparing literature
Evers, Christophe, Art of the Upper Benue River, Brüssel 2003, p. 34 Wittmer, Marcilene K., Arnett, William, Three Rivers of Nigeria, Atlanta 1978, p. 88