Yoruba Divination Bowl

A vintage West African wooden divination vessel traditionally associated with the Yoruba people and the Ifa divination tradition.

This distinctive sculptural piece features a mother-and-child figure supporting a bowl-shaped vessel on the head, creating a beautifully balanced combination of figurative carving and functional form.

Traditionally, Yoruba divination vessels of this type were used in connection with Ifa divination practices, serving as containers for sacred objects such as palm nuts, shells, and other ritual materials associated with divination ceremonies.

The entire piece is carved from solid hardwood, with hand-carved figures and a naturally aged surface that gives it an authentic rustic and primitive character. The expressive mother-and-child composition also reflects the importance of family, motherhood, and continuity often represented in Yoruba artistic traditions.

This piece makes an interesting addition to a collection of African tribal art, ethnographic objects, primitive sculpture, or traditional West African wood carvings. It can also be displayed as a distinctive decorative sculpture or conversation piece.