This elegant ivory piece was made by the
Yoruba of
Nigeria. It is a small figure of a kneeling
woman
holding her breasts in her hands. She is
kneeling
on
a round base and is supporting a round
basket on
her head. She is literally covered with
geometric
designs arranged in bands in the manner of
scarifications, although the base also has
similar,
geometric patterning. Her pupils are painted
black,
while her hair is exceptionally ornate
(perhaps
representing a skullcap). The ivory has
acquired a
beautiful patina from age and handling.
The Yoruba peoples of Nigeria have what is
probably the longest extant artistic tradition
in
Africa. The nation state is comprised of
numerous
subsections that were joined historically by
the rise
and collapse of the Ife (12th to 15th
centuries) and
Benin (13th to 19th centuries) polities. Each
of the
sub-kingdoms – including Oyo, Ijebu and
smaller
units towards the west – had their heyday,
and are
loosely united through language and culture,
although they still retain a measure of
independence
in terms of their artistic traditions.
The Yoruba are ruled by hereditary kings
known as
Obas; access to the supernatural world is
supervised
by priests (i.e. Olowa) and spiritual
intermediaries.
Their cosmology is arranged in terms of the
tangible
realm of the living (aye) and the invisible
realm of
the spirits and the hereafter (orun). The
creator of
the world is Olodumare, who is the source of
all
ase
– life force. Orun is populated by all manner
of
spirits (iwin, ajogun, egbe and oro), gods
(orisa)
and
ancestors (ara orun), all of whom influence
the
living. Most Yoruban artistic heritage is
designed to
thwart evil spirits, and to placate or honour
those
that bring good fortune to the populace.
The purpose of this piece is difficult to
establish. It
suggests a ritual, perhaps divinatory
purpose,
especially regarding the basket receptacle
atop the
woman’s head. Alternatively, it may represent
an
ancestress. The fact it is made of ivory
suggests an
elite ownership. This is a superb piece of
Yoruba
carving.
