Sale 207 Lot 369

NIGERIAN YORUBA FEMALE OGBONI SHRINE FIGURE/EARTH SPIRIT, IJEBU OR OWU REGION. Patinated bronze (or a copper alloy) Nigerian Yoruba female Ogboni shrine figure which are associated with the Ogboni (or Ogboni) society, a fraternal institution among the Yoruba people of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The figure is seated with bent legs and feet on the ground. The hands are clenched in the "Ogboni clasp," a significant gesture indicating membership, secrecy, and fidelity. The figure has scarification marks on the torso, nipples, back, shoulders, and arms, and wears a wide niched waist band and a broad collar. It has an exaggerated nose, bulging eyes, and cupped ears. The figure wears a three-pointed crown-like headdress with a herringbone incised pattern. These figures are used by Ogboni Cult members as symbols of membership and are believed to represent the god Edan in physical form. They are also used in Ogboni sanctuaries, where larger figures may be present. The Ogboni society plays a significant role in Yoruba society, with the figures serving as important religious and political symbols.

NOTE: There is a hand-written note at the base of the statue confirming its acquisition from the dealer Julius Hirsch Carlebach who owned the Carlebach Gallery (also known as the Julius Carlebach Gallery) in New York City. - Height: 18.5 inches.
Estimate $1,500-2,500