A Yoruba bowlkeeper sculpture, Nigeria, carried by four women standing on a wooden base, knees slightly bent, body in a tilted position, what is interesting in this sculpture is how the women’s hands are criss crossing to each others breasts and holding them, they are wearing a necklace, their cylindric neck carried their oval shaped head, composed of intricate features a small mouth, small nose and large opened eyes, that have been lightened by use, their conical hair does are carrying the bowl, which is colored with remnants of blue; glossy by use, signs of use some cracks, a nail in punctured on the edges of the bowl.

"Most agree Ifa are made out of wood. Owo’s leadership traces its origins to the divine kings of Ife. According to oral traditions, Owo’s founding king was one of the youngest sons of the god Orunmila. Owo emerged as a distinctive regional artistic center, specializing in ivory carving. Owos acclaimed were Owo’s ivory carvers that their services were sought after by patrons in neighboring regions."

Further Reading:
Henry J. Drewal, John Pemberton III, and Rowland Abiodun, Yoruba: Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought. Exh. Cat. New York: Center for African Art, 1989
Henry J. Drewal, "Art and Divination Among the Yoruba: Design and Myth," Africana Journal 14, nos. 2-3 (1987)
Kate Ezra, Royal Art of Benin: The Perls Collection, Exh. cat. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1992
Alisa LaGamma, Art and Oracle: African Art and Rituals of Divination, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000, Cat. 15.

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Height: 24 cm
Width: 16 cm
Weight: 770 g