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The finest objects brought to you by {name}

Julien Gauthier

Impressive Ibedji wooden figure from Nigeria. 20th century.

Acquired from a private Spanish collection, RO in the 80s.

In the case of the “ibeji”, in the Yoruba language “ibedji” means “twin”, if one or both twins die, the mother, on the advice of the sorcerer, has figurines made, so that the twin souls are not separated, which in reality are nothing more than a single soul divided in two. These figurines will take the place of the dead twin, but with the appearance he would have had as an adult, that is, as the human being he could have been and was not. On the occasion of festivals their mothers will dance with them as if they were alive and daily care for them, feeding, washing and dressing them to merit their good offices, and this they will do until the surviving twin is able to care for him or herself. Upon the death of the mother or surviving twins the statuette loses all meaning. Normally these statuettes are covered with a kauris waistcoat at family altars.

In addition to the daily washings, the Yoruba twins, Ibedji, are washed every four days, which corresponds to the Yoruba week, which is set according to the markets. They are rubbed with “tekula”, a red powder, and dressed as if they were alive. The meaning of the rite is to show that the deceased son has not been forgotten and would be welcome if he decided to start a new earthly life.
Yoruba twins are endowed with great power, especially to attract fertility.

IMPORTANT: Due to the new laws on the export and US customs we have decided to NO LONGER sell our items  in UNITED STATES of AMERICA.



Good condition

Twin - Nigeria

African & Tribal Art

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Dimensions

Height

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Object

Tribal art and objects

Tribal sculptures statues carvings and figurines

Tribal masks

Figure

Sculpture

Dance mask

Mask

Catalogue

Statue

Tribal textiles and clothing

Ancestor figure

Tribal weaponry and shields

Fetish figure

Painting

Tribal jewellery and adornments

Tribal books manuscripts and catalogues

Vase

Figurehead

Bracelet

Reliquary

Headrest

Book

Print

Tapestry

Country of origin

DR Congo

Mali

Nigeria

Côte d'Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire

Cameroon

Burkina Faso

Gabon

Benin

Congo

Ghana

Africa

Togo

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Democratic Republic of the Congo

South Africa

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Material

Wood

Bronze

Terracotta

Bone

Metal

Patinated bronze

Aluminium

Leather

Stone

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Iron (cast)

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Shell

Textile

Iron (wrought)

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Gender

Unisex

Condition

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Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

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Fair condition -  heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing

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Extras

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Period

Mid 20th century

Late 20th century

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2000-2010

1930-1940

1920-1930

1940-1950

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2020+

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2010-2020

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Certification

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Style

Ancient Asian

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Technique

Acrylic painting

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African & Tribal Art

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Twin - Nigeria

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