74 - Offerings figure from the Igala culture, Nigeria, 20th century.

Offerings figure from the Igala culture, Nigeria, 20th century. Carved wood. Measurements: 39 x 15 x 15 cm. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. A female offering figure carved in the round from wood, adorned with a light-colored pigment made from kaolin, which highlights the lines decorating the body, likely representing ritual paintings or scarifications. The Igala are a Nigerian ethnic group located on the east bank of the Niger River, where it meets the Benue. They inhabit a forested area, divided into small groups living in villages. They are known for their masks and figures, which represent both positive and negative spirits. Through these objects—which may be polychromed—and certain rituals, they exert control over their environment.