Standing wood figure, (ibeji) with headdress, on circular base. Nude female stands upright with arms connected to waist. Flat stomach below pointed breasts. Has pronounced belly button, buttocks and genitalia. Above genitalia triangles are carved. Figure wearing necklace with triangle pendant. Triangle has diamond pattern and is carved in high relief, hanging below neck on back. Eyes have thick lashes and a nail in their centre. Three vertical lines carved underneath each eye. Four horizontal lines carved next to open mouth. Ears flat against head. Tall cone-shaped headdress circled with horizontal lines and split into four sections with vertical bands. Bands at the front and back have triangles carved into them, bands on left and right are plain lines. Circular pedestal has an alternating triangle pattern carved along sides.

• History Of Use

  Based on the sacred duality of "twoness" (èjìwàpò) found in nature, such as life/death, right/left, male/female, twins are understood as bringers of wealth and blessings to their family if they are satisfied, or misfortune if they are dissatisfied. As a result, living twins are treated with a high degree of respect and favouritism. When a twin, or both, dies the parents consult a diviner (babalawo), who communicates the desires of the deceased; small commemorative wooden figures (ère ìbejì) are carved to honour and represent them. Yorubas believe that twins share a soul, so the family was to treat the figure as they would if the twin was still physically present. As a result, the twin was fed, washed and cared for. Rather than realistic representations, ère ìbejì are idealized forms. They are often decorated with cowrie shells, beaded or metal bracelets, necklaces, and anklets, and cosmetics, such as osun (camwood powder), indigo, and efun (white chalk). By the mid-19th century, Christianity and Islam began to influence the design of ère ìbejì. Yoruba Muslims sometimes commissioned ere ibeji with carved torah, or leather packets containing quotations from the Quran, while Yoruba Christians incorporated Virgin Mary medals or crucifixes. In the mid-20th century, manufactured or plastic dolls began to replace the traditional ère ìbejì. Today, these dolls, in addition to the use of photographs, continue to sustain the ère ìbejì tradition.

• Iconographic Meaning

  The facial scarification on both cheeks (ila, or “lineage face mark”) indicates a specific community to which the represented deceased twin belongs.

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• Type of Item figure
• Culture Yoruba
• Material wood, metal
• Measurements height 24.2 cm, width 8.1 cm, depth 8.2 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Millie Morton
• Received from Millie Morton

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• Made in Nigeria
• Collected in Ibadan

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• Collection Date during 1973
• Ownership Date before January 29, 2019
• Acquisition Date on January 29, 2019

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• Item Classes carvings & sculpture
• Condition good
• Accession Number 3343/0013