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

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.

For other destinations out of European territory: all our items will be shipped after obtaining a definitive LICENSE EXPORTATION by the Ministry of Culture of Spain. We inform our clients that it may take between 4-8 weeks. According to Spanish legislation, items sent outside the European Union are subjected to export taxes. The taxes will be added to the invoice, at the buyer's expense. These export fees are fixed on the final auction price, and the tax rate is not applied directly to the total value of the item to be exported, but rather the different percentages by sections are applied to it:
Up to 6,000 euros: 5%. / From 6.001 to 60.000 euros: 10 %.

Please note that for far destination (Asia, middle east etc.. ), there will be an additional cost for the shipping.  
along with export license for European Union  



Good condition

Twin - Nigeria

African & Tribal Art

Reserve price

No reserve price

Buy now

Closing date

Wednesday

12 April

Sunday

Monday

Saturday

today

Tuesday

tomorrow

9 April

Budget

From

Location

France

Belgium

Spain

Germany

The Netherlands

Italy

Austria

Portugal

United States

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Finland

United Kingdom

Greece

Japan

Luxembourg

Dimensions

Height

Width

Depth

Object

Tribal art and objects

Tribal masks

Tribal sculptures statues carvings and figurines

Figure

Mask

Sculpture

Dance mask

Ancestor figure

Fetish figure

Tribal textiles and clothing

Statue

Catalogue

Book

Textile

Shield

Stool

Headrest

Comb

Reliquary

Puppet

Painting

Print

Statuette

Tablecloth

Vase

Country of origin

DR Congo

Mali

Nigeria

Côte d'Ivoire

Congo

Côte d’Ivoire

Gabon

Africa

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Ghana

Benin

Togo

Angola

South Africa

Tanzania

Chad

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Liberia

Mozambique

Niger

Senegal

Zimbabwe

Material

Wood

Bronze

Terracotta

Metal

Glass

Bone

Iron (wrought)

Aluminium

Leather

Patinated bronze

Shell

Brass

Iron (cast/wrought)

Textiles

Iron

Stone

Silver

Steel

Copper

Earthenware

Canvas

Horn

Malachite

Murano glass

Gender

Unisex

Women

Condition

Excellent condition

Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

Fair condition

Good

Fair condition -  heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing

As new - unused

Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear

Good condition - used with some signs of wear

Good condition, see description

Good condition - used with small signs of ageing

As new

Very good

Fair

Good condition, used with some signs of wear

Poor - heavily used with major cracks, damages or major parts missing

Very good condition, see description

Needs restoration

Very good condition, very light signs of wear

Fine

In good, restored condition

Reasonable

Extras

No extra's

+ Extra item (see description)

unboxed

Period

Mid 20th century

Late 20th century

2000-2010

Early 20th century

1950-1960

1930-1940

1970-1980

1960-1970

1940-1950

1920-1930

1980-1990

2020+

1850-1900

1990-2000

1900-1910

1910-1920

Late 19th century

2010-2020

1800-1850

1600-1650

1750-1800

Early 19th century

1400-1450

1450-1500

1550-1600

Subject

Anthropology

Tribal art and culture

Portrait

Pop Culture

Regional interest

South East Asia

Day scene

Female figures

Oceania

Archaeology

Applied art

Colonial history

African & Tribal Art

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

Twin - Nigeria

Popular in African & Tribal Art

1115 objects

Related collections