Artwork Page for Pair of Twin Figures (Ère Ìbejì)

Details / Information for Pair of Twin Figures (Ère Ìbejì)

Pair of Twin Figures (Ère Ìbejì)

c. 1940s

Fakeye School

(Nigerian)
View all records in artwork set
Culture
Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Yorùbá peoples
Medium
Wood, organic material, probably bluing, glass beads, and natural fiber
Measurements
Each: 28 cm (11 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Katherine C. White 1972.332
Copyright
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Members of the Fakeye family continue to carve into the twenty-first century.

Description

Among the Yoruba, who have the world's highest instance of multiple births, twins are regarded as sacred children. Should one die, the parents may commission a memorial figure. They then care for the figure (decorate, clothe, wash, and feed it), symbolically honoring and entertaining the spirit of the departed twin so it does not call its partner to join it in the otherworld. The indigo and washing blue in the hair and the red camwood cosmetic rubbed on the bodies of these figures are signs of the devotions of their former owners.

Pair of Twin Figures (Ère Ìbejì)

c. 1940s

Fakeye School

(Nigerian)
Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Yorùbá peoples

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.