Ibeji with Very Worn Face

In the Ibeji art tradition, Yoruba carvers were the artists “of major works for public display” who additionally “met the needs of parents who mourned their deceased twins and wished to honour them with the creation of small, sculpted figures which would be placed on personal shrines,” George Chemeche writes in Ibeji: The Cult of Yoruba Twins. The twin images are among the most recognizable and beloved in traditional African art. The face of this male Ibeji is worn from repeated rubbing. Owners of Ibejis are required to treat the child image the same as an actual child, thus requiring proper care. This carving is from the Oshogbo, Oyo region. For similar works, see Richer page 7 and Finch & Co. Ibeji catalog 2007 pages 29 & 49.

10.5″

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