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two wooden statues of two men on a wooden tablepair of african carved wooden figures of a man and a womantwo wooden figurines sitting on top of a wooden tablea statue of a man holding a baseball on a tabletwo wooden statues of a man and a woman on a table
FRANCOIS EPIN ART & DESIGN CONSULTING

155 - Yoruba people, Nigeria
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Estimate €350 - €700
Sale commission
Description
Yoruba people, Nigeria Pair of Ibeji statuettes Wood with a brown and black patina Late 19th – early 20th century H. 25 cm (each) In good overall condition; a well-matched pair of fine workmanship. A pair of Ibeji statuettes, depicting the twins Taiwo and Kehinde, standing on an oval base. A striated conical headdress surmounts a face with bulging, pierced eyes, a straight nose and a slightly parted mouth revealing the teeth. The arms, rendered as broad, open loops, rest alongside the body. A beautiful contrasting patina, brown on the body and darker on the face and headdress, resulting from the repeated ritual anointings and handling characteristic of the cult of the twins. Among the Yoruba, who have one of the highest rates of twin births in the world, twins are the subject of a special cult. Upon the death of one of them, an ibeji statuette is carved to house their soul; the mother feeds, washes and anoints it regularly. This pair depicts the twins Taiwo and Kehinde, standing on an oval base, with striated conical headdresses, bulging eyes with pierced pupils, and arms rendered as broad loops. The contrasting patina, darker on the face and headdress, is the result of these repeated anointings. A harmonious pair, beautifully crafted.
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About the sale Sculptural furniture and functional art
Auction location
Auction time 10/25/2026 at 2:30 PM
Lot description modified on 10/08/2026 at 5:28 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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