Three door panels "ilekun"

Description

wood, carved with original motifs: propeller plane / kettle

According to Frobenius representational art almost died out among the Nupe after they were converted to Islam about 1830. But representational motifs are most commonly used in the carving of door panels, most notably in Lapai (Abuja Emirate) and in Agaie (Bida Emirate) where the carvers of “Sakiwa’s” compound have been intstrumental in keeping alive this form of carving.

Nupe palace doors are carved in two, three, four of five separate panels, depending on the size of the door frame.

Among the rich variety of symbolic motifs represented is an assortment of animals as well as representations of man-made objects, some of which were in the repertoire of the same Nupe carvers that produced such doors: a bow and arrow, a flintlock pistol, knives and a Koranic tablet.