COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
mediaCollectionId
AMICO~1~1
The AMICA Library
Collection
true
AMICA ID:
BCM_.82.7.54ab
amicoid
BCM_.82.7.54ab
AMICA ID
false
AMICA Library Year:
2003
aly
2003
AMICA Library Year
false
Object Type:
Sculpture
oty
Sculpture
Object Type
false
Description:
Pair of wooden figures, one female (a), one male (b).
a) Standing wooden female figure with rounded, crested coiffure with bands of incising, center right and blue dye; bulging brow, long, straight bands of incising center ridge and blue; long, straight nose with very broad nostrils pointed downward, almost touching protuberant double lips; extremely large, protruding elliptical eyes; upper half incised lashes, lower half pupils with nail holes and short lower lashes; Abaja variation of Oyo scarification marks on cheeks; large, protruding, pierced rectangular ears set back on head, tubular neck with slight forward bend; very broad, sloping shoulders; large, pendulous, downward hanging breasts with carved nipples set low on chest; carved navel, discreet genitalia; wide hips, short thick legs with large feet, toes and heels, on round base; thick arms with double armlets carved on wrists, hands resting on hips; carved shell disc bead waistband; black tubular plastic beads with red shape armlets on both wrists; camwood coating.
b) Standing wooden male figure, with rounded, crested coiffure with bands of incising, center right and blue dye; bulging brow, long, straight bands of incising center ridge and blue; long, straight nose with very broad nostrils pointed downward, almost touching protuberant double lips; extremely large, protruding elliptical eyes; upper half incised lashes, lower half pupils with nail holes and short lower lashes; Abaja variation of Oyo scarification marks on cheeks; large, protruding, pierced rectangular ears set back on head, tubular neck with slight forward bend; very broad, sloping shoulders; flat V-shape pectorals; long torso with large, flat carved navel; triangle incising between navel and finely carved penis; wide hips, short thick legs with large feet, toes and heels, on round base; thick arms with large aluminum armlets on each wrist; round pink and blue plastic bead armlet on left wrist.
a) Standing wooden female figure with rounded, crested coiffure with bands of incising, center right and blue dye; bulging brow, long, straight bands of incising center ridge and blue; long, straight nose with very broad nostrils pointed downward, almost touching protuberant double lips; extremely large, protruding elliptical eyes; upper half incised lashes, lower half pupils with nail holes and short lower lashes; Abaja variation of Oyo scarification marks on cheeks; large, protruding, pierced rectangular ears set back on head, tubular neck with slight forward bend; very broad, sloping shoulders; large, pendulous, downward hanging breasts with carved nipples set low on chest; carved navel, discreet genitalia; wide hips, short thick legs with large feet, toes and heels, on round base; thick arms with double armlets carved on wrists, hands resting on hips; carved shell disc bead waistband; black tubular plastic beads with red shape armlets on both wrists; camwood coating.
b) Standing wooden male figure, with rounded, crested coiffure with bands of incising, center right and blue dye; bulging brow, long, straight bands of incising center ridge and blue; long, straight nose with very broad nostrils pointed downward, almost touching protuberant double lips; extremely large, protruding elliptical eyes; upper half incised lashes, lower half pupils with nail holes and short lower lashes; Abaja variation of Oyo scarification marks on cheeks; large, protruding, pierced rectangular ears set back on head, tubular neck with slight forward bend; very broad, sloping shoulders; flat V-shape pectorals; long torso with large, flat carved navel; triangle incising between navel and finely carved penis; wide hips, short thick legs with large feet, toes and heels, on round base; thick arms with large aluminum armlets on each wrist; round pink and blue plastic bead armlet on left wrist.
opd
Pair of wooden figures, one female (a), one male (b).<br><br>a) Standing wooden female figure with rounded, crested coiffure with bands of incising, center right and blue dye; bulging brow, long, straight bands of incising center ridge and blue; long, straight nose with very broad nostrils pointed downward, almost touching protuberant double lips; extremely large, protruding elliptical eyes; upper half incised lashes, lower half pupils with nail holes and short lower lashes; Abaja variation of Oyo scarification marks on cheeks; large, protruding, pierced rectangular ears set back on head, tubular neck with slight forward bend; very broad, sloping shoulders; large, pendulous, downward hanging breasts with carved nipples set low on chest; carved navel, discreet genitalia; wide hips, short thick legs with large feet, toes and heels, on round base; thick arms with double armlets carved on wrists, hands resting on hips; carved shell disc bead waistband; black tubular plastic beads with red shape armlets on both wrists; camwood coating.<br><br>b) Standing wooden male figure, with rounded, crested coiffure with bands of incising, center right and blue dye; bulging brow, long, straight bands of incising center ridge and blue; long, straight nose with very broad nostrils pointed downward, almost touching protuberant double lips; extremely large, protruding elliptical eyes; upper half incised lashes, lower half pupils with nail holes and short lower lashes; Abaja variation of Oyo scarification marks on cheeks; large, protruding, pierced rectangular ears set back on head, tubular neck with slight forward bend; very broad, sloping shoulders; flat V-shape pectorals; long torso with large, flat carved navel; triangle incising between navel and finely carved penis; wide hips, short thick legs with large feet, toes and heels, on round base; thick arms with large aluminum armlets on each wrist; round pink and blue plastic bead armlet on left wrist.
Description
false
Creator Nationality:
African
crc
African
Creator Nationality
false
Creator Name-CRT:
Yoruba, Nigeria
crt
Yoruba, Nigeria
Creator Name-CRT
false
Title:
Ere Ibeji Dolls
otn
Ere Ibeji Dolls
Title
false
View:
Full view
rid
Full view
View
false
Creation Date:
20th century
oct
20th century
Creation Date
false
Creation Start Date:
1900
ocs
1900
Creation Start Date
false
Creation End Date:
1982
oce
1982
Creation End Date
false
Materials and Techniques:
Wood, metal (aluminum), plastic, dye
omd
Wood, metal (aluminum), plastic, dye
Materials and Techniques
false
Creation Place:
Nigeria, Africa
ocp
Nigeria, Africa
Creation Place
false
Dimensions:
Height: a) 11 1/4", b) 11 1/2"
met
Height: a) 11 1/4", b) 11 1/2"
Dimensions
false
AMICA Contributor:
Brooklyn Children's Museum
oon
Brooklyn Children's Museum
AMICA Contributor
false
Owner Location:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
oop
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Owner Location
false
ID Number:
82.7.54ab
ooa
82.7.54ab
ID Number
false
Credit Line:
Gift of the Honorable John. A. McKesson, 1982
ooc
Gift of the Honorable John. A. McKesson, 1982
Credit Line
false
Rights:
orl
<a href="http://www.amico.org/rights/bcm_.html"target="_new">http://www.amico.org/rights/bcm_.html</a>
Rights
false
Context:
Pair of ere ibeji ("ere" = sacred figure, "ibeji" = twin), standing wooden female and male figures from the Oshogbo area of Yorubaland. The Yoruba people have the highest twin birthrate in the world. They consider twins to be propitious - twins are thought to bring spiritual and supernatural powers to assist in protecting family, happiness, health, and prosperity. They can also bring disaster and bad luck if they are not treated with respect, so live twins are spoiled, receiving the best food, clothing, and adornment.
Upon the death of one or both twins, a figure or a pair of figures is carved to house the soul of the deceased. The figure or pair is kept in special household locations and is fed, clothed, and honored to prevent bad luck.
There are distinct ibjei carving styles throughout Yorubaland. The figures are always carved as grown adults. Most are coated with red camwood powder and the hair is covered with indigo or a blue commercial dye. The color of their adornment often indicates the mother's devotion to a particular god (Orisha). For example, a necklace of red and white beads denotes a devotess of Shango; blue beads and lead bracelets denote Oshun; black waist beads protect the deceased twin from the spirits of children born to die.
Because the old ibeji figures are valuable, the Yoruba now carve "substantive ibejis" and transfer the soul of the old ibeji to a new figure so the old one can be sold.
Upon the death of one or both twins, a figure or a pair of figures is carved to house the soul of the deceased. The figure or pair is kept in special household locations and is fed, clothed, and honored to prevent bad luck.
There are distinct ibjei carving styles throughout Yorubaland. The figures are always carved as grown adults. Most are coated with red camwood powder and the hair is covered with indigo or a blue commercial dye. The color of their adornment often indicates the mother's devotion to a particular god (Orisha). For example, a necklace of red and white beads denotes a devotess of Shango; blue beads and lead bracelets denote Oshun; black waist beads protect the deceased twin from the spirits of children born to die.
Because the old ibeji figures are valuable, the Yoruba now carve "substantive ibejis" and transfer the soul of the old ibeji to a new figure so the old one can be sold.
cxd
Pair of ere ibeji ("ere" = sacred figure, "ibeji" = twin), standing wooden female and male figures from the Oshogbo area of Yorubaland. The Yoruba people have the highest twin birthrate in the world. They consider twins to be propitious - twins are thought to bring spiritual and supernatural powers to assist in protecting family, happiness, health, and prosperity. They can also bring disaster and bad luck if they are not treated with respect, so live twins are spoiled, receiving the best food, clothing, and adornment.<br><br>Upon the death of one or both twins, a figure or a pair of figures is carved to house the soul of the deceased. The figure or pair is kept in special household locations and is fed, clothed, and honored to prevent bad luck.<br><br>There are distinct ibjei carving styles throughout Yorubaland. The figures are always carved as grown adults. Most are coated with red camwood powder and the hair is covered with indigo or a blue commercial dye. The color of their adornment often indicates the mother's devotion to a particular god (Orisha). For example, a necklace of red and white beads denotes a devotess of Shango; blue beads and lead bracelets denote Oshun; black waist beads protect the deceased twin from the spirits of children born to die.<br><br>Because the old ibeji figures are valuable, the Yoruba now carve "substantive ibejis" and transfer the soul of the old ibeji to a new figure so the old one can be sold.
Context
false
Related Image Identifier Link:
BCM_.82-7-54ab.tif
ril
BCM_.82-7-54ab.tif
Related Image Identifier Link
false