A scarce male Egba Ibeji figure from the Abeokuta region, square base with rounded corners, short legs covered with shorts, clearly elaborated belt, the backbone well carved, with shoulder blades emphasized, the navel protruding, a little belly, the chest is divided in the middle by an incision, as it is usual for the type H, the hands are joined to the body at the height of the hips, with the tips of the four fingers bent at an angle of about 90 degrees, the thumbs are held away from the body pointing straight downwards, the mouth has protruding well emphasized lips, the nose is long with a broad tip, the ears have a special shape, the eyes are semicircular and bordered all around and pierced, the hair style is high and extraordinarily artistic, formed by seven hair waves, with a plait placed across the waves at the top (it reminds a little bit of the hairstyle of some Igbomina Ibejis of Iludun); the hair is set off with black, the brown patina, which has become shiny through cultic use, shows remains of camwood in some places.

While other types of Ibejis from Abeokuta are quite common, type H is scarce, especially in this excellent quality.

Lit.: Fausto Polo, Jean David, Catalogue of the Ibeji, 2001, 17 type H., Fausto Polo, Enzyklopädie der Ibeji, 2008, No. 143.

sold

Height: 23 cm
Weight: 190 g