Standing female shrine figure "alusi" · Nigeria, Igbo · ID: 3040476
Walter Stanley Schwab, Murten, Switzerland
Walter Glaser, Basel, Switzerland
Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, 21 February 2003, lot 207
German Private Collection
Description
light wood, small remains of black pigment, flat body with geometrical arranged limbs, vertical band tattoo with diagonal grooves, inscribed in two places on the backside: “WS 250”, slightly dam., cracks, missing parts through insect caused damage (above all backside), washing patina, base;
the geometric stylized treatment is typical of southern Igbo statues. These big figures were kept in sanctuaries or in so-called “m’bari” relaxation rooms for men.
The object Standing female shrine figure “alusi” with the object ID 3040476 was last part of the auction 83rd Tribal Art Auction at May 28, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 272.
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Publications
Afrikanische Kunst, Peter Werner - Exotica, München 1972, S. 12