Ere ibeji figure

Museum number:
5-15810
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21050015810
Alternate number:
2167 (original number)
Accession number:
Acc.4661
Description:
Figure, twin (Ibeji), wood, handcarved; male, with incised, elongated headdress; stylized face with protruding eyes; incised scarification below navel; hands on hips; short legs, with feet resting on round base; dark brown finish, with residual white pigment in incisions.
Donor:
Berta Bascom
Collection place:
Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
West Africa; Nigeria; Yoruba; Oyo
Culture or time period:
Yoruba
Collector:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Collection date:
1951
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works) and Ere ibeji
Function:
5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama
Accession date:
December 12, 1994
Context of use:
The incidence of twin births among the Yoruba is exceptionally high; so too is the infant mortality rate. Upon the death of one or both of the twins, ibeji, small wood surrogates are carved, since twins are looked upon as powerful spirits. The carvings, ere ibeji, must be washed, fed, clothed, and generally tended as though they were living twins, and for as long a period as divination may prescribe. When twins are born to a woman of royal lineage, they must qualify, in the event of their death, for special beaded garments, ordered from the crown-maker. May either be individual dresses or double ones, incorporating both the ere ibeji in a single wide garment with two neck holes. Similar garments covered with cowrie shells symbolize the wealth which twins can bring to those who acknowledge their power. (Fagg & Pemberton: p. 199). Collector's note: "Beads probably indicates Shango worshipper.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
height 28.3 centimeters and width 7 centimeters
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 7 titled Ere ibeji figure, accession number 5-15810, described as Figure, twin (Ibeji), wood, handcarved; male, with incised, elongated headdress; stylized face with protruding eyes; incised scarification below navel; hands on hips; short legs, with feet resting on round base; dark brown finish, with residual white pigment in incisions.Hearst Museum object 2 of 7 titled Ere ibeji figure, accession number 5-15810, described as Figure, twin (Ibeji), wood, handcarved; male, with incised, elongated headdress; stylized face with protruding eyes; incised scarification below navel; hands on hips; short legs, with feet resting on round base; dark brown finish, with residual white pigment in incisions.Hearst Museum object 3 of 7 titled Ere ibeji figure, accession number 5-15810, described as Figure, twin (Ibeji), wood, handcarved; male, with incised, elongated headdress; stylized face with protruding eyes; incised scarification below navel; hands on hips; short legs, with feet resting on round base; dark brown finish, with residual white pigment in incisions.Hearst Museum object 4 of 7 titled Ere ibeji figure, accession number 5-15810, described as Figure, twin (Ibeji), wood, handcarved; male, with incised, elongated headdress; stylized face with protruding eyes; incised scarification below navel; hands on hips; short legs, with feet resting on round base; dark brown finish, with residual white pigment in incisions.Hearst Museum object 5 of 7 titled Ere ibeji figure, accession number 5-15810, described as Figure, twin (Ibeji), wood, handcarved; male, with incised, elongated headdress; stylized face with protruding eyes; incised scarification below navel; hands on hips; short legs, with feet resting on round base; dark brown finish, with residual white pigment in incisions.Hearst Museum object 6 of 7 titled Ere ibeji figure, accession number 5-15810, described as Figure, twin (Ibeji), wood, handcarved; male, with incised, elongated headdress; stylized face with protruding eyes; incised scarification below navel; hands on hips; short legs, with feet resting on round base; dark brown finish, with residual white pigment in incisions.Hearst Museum object 7 of 7 titled Ere ibeji figure, accession number 5-15810, described as Figure, twin (Ibeji), wood, handcarved; male, with incised, elongated headdress; stylized face with protruding eyes; incised scarification below navel; hands on hips; short legs, with feet resting on round base; dark brown finish, with residual white pigment in incisions.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Ere ibeji figure, accession number 5-15810, described as Figure, twin (Ibeji), wood, handcarved; male, with incised, elongated headdress; stylized face with protruding eyes; incised scarification below navel; hands on hips; short legs, with feet resting on round base; dark brown finish, with residual white pigment in incisions.

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