Interiors & Decorations

Jewellery & Precious Stones

Watches, Pens & Lighters

Fashion

Coins & Stamps

Comics & Animation

Classic Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia

Wine, Whisky & Spirits

Asian & Tribal Art

Trading Cards

Toys & Models

Archaeology & Natural History

Sports

Music, Movies & Cameras

Books & Historical Memorabilia

The finest objects brought to you by {name}

Julien Gauthier

Ifa divination board, Yoruba people, Nigeria
Wood
Age: 40s-50s
Provenance: collection Alan Donovan, Los Angeles, USA
Soft "soapy" patina

The most essential implements of a Yoruba babalawo, or diviner, are his tray ("opon Ifa") and his tapper ("iroke Ifa"). To initiate a divination session, the babalawo sprinkles wood powder over the smooth inner surface of the tray and strikes the point of the tapper several times against it to invoke Orunmila, the Yoruba god of fate. As the sacred palm nuts are cast, the diviner records the results by marking the powder with his tapper. These markings reveal the proper chants to be recited. The more visually appealing the diviner’s tools, the more pleasing they are to Orunmila, and thus more effective in addressing the appeals of both the diviner and the client.

The face carved on this tray's rim portrays Esu, the messenger who bears sacrifices to the gods and oversees the divination ritual.


Mid 20th century - Wood - Good condition

Ifa divination tray - Opon Ifa - Yoruba - Nigeria

African & Tribal Art

Reserve price

No reserve price

Closing date

25 October

today

Wednesday

Thursday

Tuesday

Friday

tomorrow

Budget

From

Location

France

Belgium

Germany

The Netherlands

Spain

Austria

Italy

Portugal

Ireland

Switzerland

Poland

Denmark

Greece

Luxembourg

Norway

Romania

Size

S (10–40 cm)

M (40–80 cm)

XS (under 10 cm)

L (over 80 cm)

Dimensions

Height

Width

Depth

Object

Tribal art and objects

Tribal sculptures statues carvings and figurines

Tribal masks

Figure

Sculpture

Dance mask

Fetish figure

Textile

Tribal weaponry and shields

Book

Painting

Statue

Mask

Tribal mask

Figurehead

Print

Vase

Carving

Stool

Puzzle

Headdress

Necklace

Ancestor figure

Figurine

Country of origin

DR Congo

Nigeria

Mali

Congo

Côte d’Ivoire

Ghana

Benin

Burkina Faso

Côte d'Ivoire

Gabon

Cameroon

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Togo

Africa

Angola

Haiti

Chad

Tanzania

Ethiopia

Madagascar

Guinea-Bissau

Kenya

Niger

Sierra Leone

Material

Wood

Bronze

Terracotta

Iron (wrought)

Leather

Copper

Metal

Iron

Patinated bronze

Bone

Brass

Horn

Stone

Shell

Rubber

Steel

Aluminium

Textiles

Rattan

Clay

Stone (mineral stone)

Cotton

Granite

Olive

Gender

Unisex

Women

Condition

Good condition

Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

Excellent condition

Fair condition

Fair condition -  heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing

Good

Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear

Needs restoration

Good condition - used with small signs of ageing

Very good

Very good condition - slightly used with small signs of wear

Good condition, see description

Good condition - used with some signs of wear

Good condition, used with some signs of wear

Very good condition, see description

Very used condition, used with visible signs of wear

As new

Fine

Fair

Very good condition, slightly used with small signs of wear

Extras

No extra's

without manual without box

Period

Mid 20th century

Early 20th century

Late 20th century

1940-1950

1930-1940

Late 19th century

2000-2010

1970-1980

1920-1930

1960-1970

1950-1960

1990-2000

2020+

1980-1990

1850-1900

1900-1910

1800-1850

1400-1450

1910-1920

1500-1550

2010-2020

1450-1500

1650-1700

Mid 19th century

Mid 18th century

Certification

No laboratory report

Subject

Tribal art and culture

Portrait

Regional interest

Summer scene

Day scene

Anthropology

Art history

Applied art

Colonial history

Illustrated

Religion

African & Tribal Art

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

Ifa divination tray - Opon Ifa - Yoruba - Nigeria

Popular in African & Tribal Art

896 objects

Related collections