206 - Urhobo Shrine Figure

Urhobo Shrine Figure Wood, carved, with traces of white and black pigmentation and a crusted patina Nigeria, Urhobo, ca. 1850–80. Standing shrine figure wearing a tall headdress and with scarification on the forehead, raising an oliphant to its mouth with both hands. Wears a white-and-black-striped loincloth; stands on a round base. Signs of age and wear, dry cracks, rubbed-off pigment, repair marks; base with cracks and missing sections. Height 173 cm Sotheby’s, New York, May 1997, Auction No. 6977, Lot 63 (examined by Prof. Perkins Foss based on information in the auction catalog) See Perkins Foss (ed.), *Where Gods and Mortals Meet: Continuity and Renewal in Urhobo Art*, Museum for African Art, New York/Ghent 2004 Foss (1976) has described these large-scale figures in detail: “The most highly developed tradition of sculpture for the edjo finds its expression in the medium of wood. Wooden figures for the spirits, known as edjo re akare (‘spirits in carved form’), lend the abstract concept of spiritual powers a strikingly impressive presence. These figures are kept in small, enclosed buildings and carefully arranged to create the greatest possible visual impact. They rank among the most significant artistic achievements of the Urhobo. Most surviving examples of wooden sculptures for the spirits deal with the theme of warrior power. The figures bear military equipment: they are equipped with various medicines and other offerings specifically intended to endow the warrior with the magical powers necessary for success in battle. The families of the individual villages are depicted both as family communities and as warriors. Inside small shrines are depictions of men, women, children, and followers arranged in carefully staged groups of figures. Of utmost importance to the design of these works of art is the fact that their creators were warriors who had to fight countless battles to conquer and hold their new land." Announcement date: November 25, 2026 Approximate announcement time: 2:57 p.m. CET