1 / 12

Description

An Yoruba-Ijebu headdress, "igodo" Yoruba-Ijebu, Nigeria Mit Sockel / with base Wood. H 59 cm. Provenance: - Collection privée française - Galerie Alain Bovis, Paris. - Private collection in French-speaking Switzerland. A certificate from the Galerie Alain Bovis will be given to the buyer. Unsold at Sotheby's Paris (09.04.2022, "Living Contemporary", lot 84) with an estimate of € 2'000-3'000. -------------------------------------------- The Ijebu, whose origins can be traced back to the 15th century, are a subgroup of the Yoruba people. Their capital, Ijebu-Ode, is located in the riverine landscape of the fertile coastal region of Ogun State. The numerous waterways and the central location on the trade route between Lagos and Ibadan enabled the empire to establish a profitable trading monopoly in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the rainy season, the network of fish-rich shallow tributaries swells into a veritable labyrinth of streams and waterways connected to the lagoon coast. During high water, the Ijebu celebrate a festival lasting several days in honor of the spiritual powers of the water spirits. The forces that influence well-being and the blessing of children are worshipped in the cult known as "agbo-ekine", which presumably originates from the Ijo people further east. This cultural influence can also be seen in the design of the water spirit masks danced during the festivities, for example the hybrid creature ("igodo") with a beard-like surface on which a bird (missing here) is pecking a snake, or the antelope ("agira") and the crocodile ("oni"). During the festivities, the masks appear just above the surface of the water, as if they were floating above it by themselves. Hidden as deeply as possible in the water, the dancers wear the masks horizontally on their heads and take great care not to be discovered. Further reading: Wittmer, Marcilene K. / Arnett, William (1978). Three Rivers of Nigeria. Atlanta: The High Museum of Art. CHF 1 500 / 3 000 Weight in grams: 2484 Condition: Tip of the left ear missing. Visible damage (see photos). -------------------------------- The condition (any wear, signs of use, cracks, any other damage and signs of age, etc.) of this lot can be seen in the photos we have uploaded for your documentation. If you have any questions about this item, please do not hesitate to contact Hammer Auctions ([email protected]). The information regarding the condition of the items provided for the convenience of interested parties is an opinion only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Hammer Auctions accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. In the rare event that the item does not match the description in the catalog, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the lot for a full refund provided they notify Hammer Auctions within 5 days of receiving the lot.

Automatically translated by DeepL. The original version is the only legally valid version.
To see the original version, click here.

31 
Go to lot
<
>

An Yoruba-Ijebu headdress, "igodo" Yoruba-Ijebu, Nigeria Mit Sockel / with base Wood. H 59 cm. Provenance: - Collection privée française - Galerie Alain Bovis, Paris. - Private collection in French-speaking Switzerland. A certificate from the Galerie Alain Bovis will be given to the buyer. Unsold at Sotheby's Paris (09.04.2022, "Living Contemporary", lot 84) with an estimate of € 2'000-3'000. -------------------------------------------- The Ijebu, whose origins can be traced back to the 15th century, are a subgroup of the Yoruba people. Their capital, Ijebu-Ode, is located in the riverine landscape of the fertile coastal region of Ogun State. The numerous waterways and the central location on the trade route between Lagos and Ibadan enabled the empire to establish a profitable trading monopoly in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the rainy season, the network of fish-rich shallow tributaries swells into a veritable labyrinth of streams and waterways connected to the lagoon coast. During high water, the Ijebu celebrate a festival lasting several days in honor of the spiritual powers of the water spirits. The forces that influence well-being and the blessing of children are worshipped in the cult known as "agbo-ekine", which presumably originates from the Ijo people further east. This cultural influence can also be seen in the design of the water spirit masks danced during the festivities, for example the hybrid creature ("igodo") with a beard-like surface on which a bird (missing here) is pecking a snake, or the antelope ("agira") and the crocodile ("oni"). During the festivities, the masks appear just above the surface of the water, as if they were floating above it by themselves. Hidden as deeply as possible in the water, the dancers wear the masks horizontally on their heads and take great care not to be discovered. Further reading: Wittmer, Marcilene K. / Arnett, William (1978). Three Rivers of Nigeria. Atlanta: The High Museum of Art. CHF 1 500 / 3 000 Weight in grams: 2484 Condition: Tip of the left ear missing. Visible damage (see photos). -------------------------------- The condition (any wear, signs of use, cracks, any other damage and signs of age, etc.) of this lot can be seen in the photos we have uploaded for your documentation. If you have any questions about this item, please do not hesitate to contact Hammer Auctions ([email protected]). The information regarding the condition of the items provided for the convenience of interested parties is an opinion only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Hammer Auctions accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. In the rare event that the item does not match the description in the catalog, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the lot for a full refund provided they notify Hammer Auctions within 5 days of receiving the lot.

Estimate 1 500 - 3 000 CHF
Starting price 500 CHF

* Not including buyer’s premium.
Please read the conditions of sale for more information.

Sale fees: 26 %
Leave bid
Register

For sale on Wednesday 28 Aug : 18:00 (CEST)
basel, Switzerland
Hammer Auktionen AG
+41444000220
Browse the catalogue Sales terms Sale info

Delivery to
Change delivery address
Delivery is not mandatory.
You may use the carrier of your choice.
The indicated price does not include the price of the lot or the auction house's fees.