Ibeji
Nigeria
Ere Ibeji twin figures
Yoruba, Omu Aran style
Igbomina region, Nigeria
Early 20th century
Carved wood, beads
Height: 27 cm – 10 ½ in.
Provenance
Collection Mareidi & Gert Stoll, Munich
Collection Nina & Henrikus Simonis, Düsseldorf
Collection Hilde & Dieter Scharf, Hambourg, acquired from the above in the 1990s
Publications
“Ibeji. Zwillingsfiguren der Yoruba – Twin Figures of the Yoruba”, Stoll, G. & M., Munich, 1980, p. 319, n° 219
“Sehen lernen. Eine Sammlung afrikanischer Figuren”, Heymer, K. & Thompson, J., Cologne, 1999, pp. 58 & 59, n°19
“Figuren Afrikas. Meisterwerke einer Privatsammlung”, Rochard, P. & al., Ingelheim-am-Rhein, 2002, pp. 28 & 29, n°2
“Afrika und die Kunst. Einblicke in deutsche Privatsammlungen”, Hecht, D. & Kawik, G., Berlin, 2010, pp. 358 & 359
Exhibition
“Figuren Afrikas. Meisterwerke einer Privatsammlung”, Ingelheim-am-Rhein, Altes Rathaus, April 28th – July 7th 2002
They were considered to be living beings, a reincarnation of ancestor-twins. Representations always showed them at the peak of their strength and power in adulthood.
