Standing female figure ·  Nigeria, Eggon · ID: 3037850

Description

wood, light brown patina, striking massive neck-breast area and large bulky hands, unusual form of the head: low, with a beak-like projecting mouth part, the face coated with deep linear grooves, the hairdo consisting of blackish mass with human hair, which can be found in the shame area as well, slightly dam. (mouthpart, ears), missing parts (right foot tip, thumb of the right hand), cracks (right side of the body backside), abrasion of paint, metal plate;
rare !
Oral tradition has it that the Eggon came to their present land through Ngazargamu (main capital) of ancient Borno State (1380-1893) of Nigeria. From there, they moved away, and were part of the Kwararafa kingdom. Kwararafa was a multiethnic state centered along the Benue River valley in what is today eastern Nigeria. It was when Kwararafa was scattered that they crossed the river Benue at Ibi. They camped in many places before finally settling on the Eggon hill. They were on this hill before the coming of the white man. Today many Eggon people have come down to the plains but there are still some living up the hills.

The object Standing female figure with the object ID 3037850 was last part of the auction 78th tribal art auction at October 18, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 283 achieved a sales price of EUR 7,500.

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Publications

John Giltsoff, Fine Arts of Africa, Oceania and The Americas, Girona 2003