Zemanek-Münster

Soul container figure "iran otibago" ·  Guinea-Bissau, Bissagos Islands, Bidjogo · ID: 3048803

sold EUR 2,500
Provenance
Private Collection, New York, USA (Estate 2018)
Amyas Naegele, New York, USA (agent for the estate)
Size
H: 36 cm
H: 14.2 inch

Description

wood, nails, encrusted sacrificial patina, pigments, missing parts, insect caused damage, base

These figures serve as homes for the souls of revered deceased. They provide the living with a means of cummunicating with the ancestors as well as with the surpeme deity (“orrebuco-ocoto”).

An “iran otibago” can belong to an individual or to an entire village. In either instance it is given offerings and appealed to for a wide range of personal and communal concerns.

The “iran” were called in case of illness, civil disputes, to investigate and punish witchcraft or to confirm a village chief. It is reported that before each arable activity animal sacrifices were offered to the “iran” and after the harvest a part of the yield had to be sacrificed to him.


The object Soul container figure “iran otibago” with the object ID 3048803 was last part of the auction 98th Auction at March 26, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 150 achieved a sales 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.


Publications

AHDRC: 0156637


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