AFRICA – FOWLER MUSEUM – The Fowler Museum boasts one of the largest collections of African arts in the United States. Its extensive holdings include metalwork, wood carvings, textiles, musical instruments, popular urban arts, and ceramics. These pieces originate from across the African continent and span millennia, showcasing the vibrancy and diversity of African art from nearly every historical period and region. Significant portions of the collection come from countries such as Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, and South Africa.
Notable Highlights and Provenance of the Collection
AFRICA – FOWLER MUSEUM – The collection boasts several strengths, including Yoruba arts, Kuba and Lega style arts, popular arts from Senegal and Ghana, and ironwork from West and Central Africa. The collection from Askut, Sudan is also particularly noteworthy. The provenance of these works is diverse, ranging from pieces collected during the colonial period by tourists, administrators, missionaries, soldiers, and others, to artworks that were field-collected, archaeologically excavated, or commissioned during the post-colonial era.
Comprehensive Scope and Historical Significance of the Collection
AFRICA – FOWLER MUSEUM – The extensive geographic, temporal, and provenance diversity of this collection underscores the complex history it represents. This depth makes the African arts collection particularly vibrant, offering significant historical, aesthetic, and research value.
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Explore some of the stunning African Tribal art pieces Gallery Preira has in its collection, such as these incredible Yoruba Ibeji Figures from Nigeria:
These “ere” (statues) dolls are an incarnation of twins, they have a conical headdress made of braids, tinted with indigo. The strings of neck ornaments symbolize values of wealth and fertility. Lustrous mahogany patina.
In the language of the Yoruba people, ibeji means twin, ibi for born and eji for two. They represent the figure of a deceased twin. This ibedji is then treated as the missing child who would have been. It is the mother who must take care of this child, she can wash and feed them regularly. If the mother dies, the remaining twin takes over this task. It also happened that a man would have a ibeji carved for his wife in the hope of pregnancy. Supporting the soul of the twin, the ibeji influenced the life of the family, becoming a source of benefits for his parents. They continued to pray to the child and dedicate cults and libations to him.
Item details
Weight | 0.800 kg |
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Dimensions | 7 × 35 cm |
Provenance | Ex French Private Collection |
Estimated Date | Mid 20th Century |
Country | Nigeria |
Material | Beads, Wood |
Stand | Included |