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Ibeji Twin Sculpture Pair, Nigeria
- Ibeji Twin Sculpture, Nigeria
- Measurements: Height: 26 cm / 26 cm
- Materials: Wood, antique glass beads
- An Ibeji couple, hands resting on thighs, hair piled high, ornate with strings of very fine colorful discs and red beads in different sizes, remnants of camwood, partly glossy, Nigeria.
- The Ibeji twin sculptures are ritual wooden figures created by the Yoruba people of Nigeria to honor deceased twins and maintain spiritual balance. The Yoruba have one of the highest rates of twin births in the world, and twins ("ibeji" in Yoruba) are considered sacred and spiritually powerful. When a twin dies, a carved figure is commissioned to house the spirit of the deceased, ensuring their continued presence in the family. These sculptures are typically small, with stylized human features, and are often adorned with coloured beads, cowrie shells, fabric, and sometimes indigo or camwood dye. The beads, in particular, are not merely decorative but are symbolic of wealth, spiritual protection, and status. The surviving twin or the mother of the twins (called "Iya Ibeji") cares for the figure by feeding, washing, dressing, and adorning it as one would a living child. This practice reflects the Yoruba belief in the interconnection between the spiritual and physical worlds, as well as the enduring role of twins as bringers of good fortune and blessings when properly honored (Drewal & Drewal, 1983).
- Condition: Excellent
$1,400.00
Ibeji Twin Sculpture Pair, Nigeria—
$1,400.00
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Description
- Ibeji Twin Sculpture, Nigeria
- Measurements: Height: 26 cm / 26 cm
- Materials: Wood, antique glass beads
- An Ibeji couple, hands resting on thighs, hair piled high, ornate with strings of very fine colorful discs and red beads in different sizes, remnants of camwood, partly glossy, Nigeria.
- The Ibeji twin sculptures are ritual wooden figures created by the Yoruba people of Nigeria to honor deceased twins and maintain spiritual balance. The Yoruba have one of the highest rates of twin births in the world, and twins ("ibeji" in Yoruba) are considered sacred and spiritually powerful. When a twin dies, a carved figure is commissioned to house the spirit of the deceased, ensuring their continued presence in the family. These sculptures are typically small, with stylized human features, and are often adorned with coloured beads, cowrie shells, fabric, and sometimes indigo or camwood dye. The beads, in particular, are not merely decorative but are symbolic of wealth, spiritual protection, and status. The surviving twin or the mother of the twins (called "Iya Ibeji") cares for the figure by feeding, washing, dressing, and adorning it as one would a living child. This practice reflects the Yoruba belief in the interconnection between the spiritual and physical worlds, as well as the enduring role of twins as bringers of good fortune and blessings when properly honored (Drewal & Drewal, 1983).
- Condition: Excellent
