A very finely crafted female Egba Ibeji from Abeokuta, most likely from the workshop of the Adugbologe family, founded in Abeokuta in 1851 by its founder Ojerinde Adigbologe. The base trapezoidal, the legs long with long feet, the backbone is well carved, the shoulder blades emphasised, the shoulders narrow and round, the pubes decorated with small rhombs representing frizzy hair, the navel protruding, the hands are joined to the body at the height of the hips, with the tips of the four fingers bent upwards, the thumbs are held away from the body, pointing straight downwards, the breasts are slim and protruding, the mouth is wide with well emphasised lips, the nose short, the eyes areelliptical, bordered all around and pierced, the ears are attached closely to the head at their top with protruding pierced lobes at the bottom, scarifications at the cheeks and the forehead, the hairstyle is high and artistic and crested, with a small ponytail at the back; the hair is painted blue with washing blue, fine condition with a beautiful touching patina.

The carver is not known, but judging by the style, the little lady could date from the early to mid 20th century.

Lit.: Fausto Polo, Jean David, Catalogue of the Ibeji, 2001, type G, 16. Fausto Polo, Enzyklopädie der Ibeji, 2008, 137-142.

sold

Height: 24 cm
Weight: 225 g