Standing female protective figure "ihambe" ·  Nigeria, Tiv · ID: 3034256

Description

heavy wood, matt greyish brown patina, heart-shaped facial plane, scarifications on the temples, pierced ears, crowned by a disc-shaped headcrest, min. dam., small missing parts through insect caused damage;
with a population of about one million people, the Tiv represent the most important ethnical group within northeastern Nigeria. They do not have any masks, but figures which are called “ihambe” and which have not been made since the beginning of the century and which can be divided in two different styles “the post style” and “the realistic style”. Present figure belongs to the latter.

Comparing literature

Neyt, Francois, The Arts of the Benue, Belgien 1985, p. 162