The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 18, 2024

Pair of Twin Figures (Ère Ìbejì)

Pair of Twin Figures (Ère Ìbejì)

c. 1940s
(Nigerian)
Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Yorùbá peoples
Wood, organic material, probably bluing, glass beads, and natural fiber
Each: 28 cm (11 in.)
Gift of Katherine C. White 1972.332
Location: not on view

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.
  • 1966
    Ross Widen
    Ross Widen, Cleveland (1966); Katherine White Reswick
  • Traditions and Revisions: Themes from the History of Sculpture. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 24-November 16, 1975).
    CMA 1975: "Traditions and Revisions," cat. no. 44.
    CMA 1973: "Year in Review 1972," CMA Bulletin LX (March, 1973), p. 107, no. 42.
    Year in Review: 1972. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 27-March 18, 1973).
    CMA 1968: "African Tribal Images: The Katherine White Reswick Collection," cat. no. 126, repr.
  • {{cite web|title=Pair of Twin Figures (Ère Ìbejì)|url=false|author=Fakeye School|year=c. 1940s|access-date=18 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1972.332