Rare figurally carved ritual board, 19th century ·  Nigeria, Ibibio / Eket · ID: 3045751

Description

wood, pigments, old inscription “West African Fetish…(unreadable)”

The exact function of this object is unknown. It could be a shrine object. However, the handle carved on the back is an indication that it was also carried around, so it may have been used in ceremonial dances or processions.

In the Ibibio social system, the most important governmental functions were in the hands of men’s graded societies such as the mighty “ekpo”, the “idiong” and the “ekong” society. These societies had their own meeting houses in most villages and were sponsors for most of the ritual objects.

The skull representation in the center could be an indication of the “ekong” society, which were successful headhunters in pre-colonial times.

The two flanking masks are reminiscent of the type of “idiok” masks belonging to the “ekpo” society. A very early specimen, reproduced by Leuzinger (1972), p. 213 (AHDRC 0092072) shows the same large and deep-seated eye sockets.

The object Rare figurally carved ritual board, 19th century with the object ID 3045751 was last part of the auction 92nd Tribal Art Auction at June 29, 2019 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 153.

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Comparing literature

Leuzinger, Elsy, Die Kunst von Schwarz-Afrika, Recklinghausen 1972, p. 213

Publications

Conru primitive art, "African Art", Brussels/ Ringmore, Belgium / United Kingdom, 2002, ill. 3