A rare female Oyo Ibeji from Kishi, standing on a round base with carvings all around formed by close crosshatched lines inclined nearly 30 degrees to the right and left, 2-3 millimeters apart. This and the almost oval face are identifying elements. The feet are big, the leg grows almost from the middle of the foot, which is a secondary feature. The prominent buttocks merge into a well emphasized carved backbone. The breasts are long and hanging. From the navel are scarification marks radiating to the hips and downwards to the pubes. The shoulders are narrow and straight, the thin arms hang down along the body and huge hands lie flat on the thighs and reach almost to the ankles (secondary feature). The head with the oval face rests on a long and strong neck. Below the short nose with its broad tip lies a straight mouth with well emphasized lips. The pierced eyes are elliptical, with lashes carved all around. The ears have a special shape. Eight small hotizontal scarification marks on each cheek. The hair-style is high, conspicuous, formed by many dread locks converging in a central dread crest on the top of the head. The Ibeji wears a necklace which used to be colored, but is now black due to the sacrificial patina and around the hips hangs a string of fine black pearls which are said to offer protection from Abiku, the powerful spirit of "children born to die"; dark patinated wood, thick remains of Camwood all over the figure, which is slightly reddish on the lips, possibly due to the mother's kisses.

Lit.: Fausto Polo, Jean David, Catalogue of the Ibeji, 2001, 740, type A. Fausto Polo, Enzyklopädie der Ibeji, 2008, 445.

450 - 550,- Euro

Height: 27 cm
Weight: 242 g