Carving, ibejis. Standing male and female figures on square self-bases. Burned in holes in eyes. Egg-shaped heads in profile. Hairdos incised and colored dark blue. Protruding lips and belly buttons. Hands not attached to legs, but curl inwards. (a) Male had triangular shaped cloth around waist, tied in front that doesn't cover the buttocks. Has some cracks on belly. Hair is a thin "mohawk" (meneugu) hairdo. (b) Female hair has a negative space in the back implying a braid. Neither appear to have been used, there is no sign of wear of patina.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Verbatim coll. place:
Duga, possibly Oyo due to trousers on (a).
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection date:
1953?
Materials:
Hair (material) and Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works) and Ere ibeji
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Accession date:
December 15, 1995
Context of use:
Traditionally carved upon the death of a twin or twins.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
5-15913a— height 23 centimeters and 5-15913b— height 23.5 centimeters