This week, I will be presenting my first book during Bruneaf XXIII at the gallery of Pierre Loos (Impasse Saint Jacques 17, first floor). There will be a small exhibition with the ere ibeji from the Winkel collection, together with some framed pictures. I will be signing the book on Wednesday 05/06, Thursday 06/06 and Saturday 08/06 – hope to see you there !
Among the Yoruba of southwest Nigeria, the rate of twin births is over four times the worldwide average. This fact along with a high infant mortality rate gave rise to the creation of a unique twin cult. For each deceased twin, a small carved wooden figurine, or ere ibeji, was made in which the spirit of the deceased could live on. This statuette was lovingly cared for on a daily basis and in return brought the family health and prosperity. Through the lens of Jean-Pierre Depienne and the pen of Bruno Claessens, the 32 ere ibeji from the private collection of Dos and Bertie Winkel are presented in this book for the first time. After an introductory text on the subject, the extensive variety of styles of this very particular type of African art are described in depth.
After Bruneaf, you can order the book here on the website of Dos and Bertie Winkel.
In the Sotheby’s May 16 African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art sale in New York last week four Yoruba female ere ibeji from Nigeria were presented without any contextual information. Nevertheless, this particular style is easily recognizable by its formal characteristics. A short little nose is always positioned high between the lozenge-shaped eyes. From a frontal view, the ears are not visible. They are positioned to the head’s rear and have a quite particular form. The simple hairdo transitions fluently with the face, and consists of different conical volumes. Female ibeji from Baba Magba have low-placed breasts, often reaching down to navel level. The legs stand spread apart, with feet up to the edge of a rounded rectangular base.
According to William Fagg, these ibeji come from Baba-Magba, that he alternately described as a village in the vicinity of Ilorin or as an outer district of the same locality (Christie’s, 13 June 1978, lot 261 & Christie’s, 10 November 1981, lot 186). Equally, Baba Magba was also the title of the chief priest of the Shango cult, who had his seat in Oyo. So it is possible that the name is a commemoration denoting that at one time a Baba Magba came from this village (Fagg in Christie’s, 13 June 1978, lot 261). Fagg identified this style on the basis of an ibeji collected in 1912 in the collection of the World Museum (part of the National Museums) in Liverpool (#22.11.192.167). Stoll & Stoll attribute them to an Igbomina sculptor (Stoll (Gert & Mareidi), Ibeji, Zwillingsfiguren der Yoruba, Munich, 1980: p. 309, #209), and according to Fausto Polo this well-known type of ibeji originates from Offa (Igbomina) (Polo (Fausto) & David (Jean), Ibeji. Catalogue des ibeji, Zürich, 2001:#905).
The master-sculptor who invented this style was active during the last-quarter of the 19th century, something attested to in a female ibeji that was collected between November 1896 and April 1897 by Major-General Sir Cecil Pereira (Christie’s, 13 June 1978, lot 261). This artist was very active and probably established a prolific workshop. Many comparable ibeji in this unique style are known and they were still seen in the field until the 1980s, as shown in this field-photo by Deborah Stokes.
Ramanu Iyanda holding a pair of ere ibeji representing the younger sisters of his father, Jimoh Ajadi. Said to be carved by his grandfather, Yesafu Amuda. Town of Somodero, Olondi compound, Oyo State, Nigeria, 1980. Photo courtesy of Deborah Stokes.
UPDATE: William Fagg revised his attribution of this style a bit in 1984; he now stated this pairs as coming “from south of Ilorin” and gave this specific information: This style is a variant of one of which an example was acquired early in the century by Liverpool Museum, identified as from Baba Magba : this has recently been located as a ward in the town of Ilorin, to which it may be assumed that the style extended. However two years ago ibeji researchers found an old carver of another variant of the style living in a village 30 or 40 miles down the southward road. This variant could well be to the south-east in the direction of Igbomina. (source: Christie’s, London, 10 April 1984. Lot 88. & Christie’s, London, 14 December 1984. Lot 116.)
(Thanks Fausto Polo for the reference!)
Two personal favourites from the last Neumeister auction (which was not very succesful, to be polite).
A fine ere ibeji pair in a known style that sold for € 4,500.
To quote myself from my book on ibeji:
Ibeji of this type (with protruding lozenge-shaped eyes and a low-set pointed mouth), are described in the literature as originating from various Igbomina villages and cities. Similar examples have been found in Oro (25 km. to the north of Ila-Orangun), Ijomu-Oro (a few kilometers northeast of Oro), Esie (2 km. to the southeast of Oro), Oke-Onigbin (15 km. east of Oro and half-way to Omu-Aran), Ijara-Isin (5 kilometers northeast of Oke-Onigbin) and Omu-Aran (30 km. northeast of Ila-Orangun). In the circular area so described, Oke-Onigbin is centrally positioned, making this well-known artists’ village a plausible place of origin for this ibeji type. George Chemeche, with his diplomatic description ‘Oro/Omu-Aran region’, has provided the most accurate attribution for this local Igbomina sub-style.
And a fantastic Swazi headrest, which sold for only € 900.
A short review of the results of the Bonhams sale of May 15th in NY. Before aftersale, about 50 % of the lots were sold. Overall results were as expected. Many of the excellent objects of daily use from the collection of Marc & Denyze Ginzberg were sold for next to nothing. The Chokwe figure on the front cover failed to sell, which shouldn’t be a suprise seen the high estimate.
Some personal favourites:
– a rare Mossi doorpost, which sold for $ 3,125 inc. premium. A wonderful abstract form at a bargain price.
– a miniature Songye figure with a turned head, wich sold for $ 20,000 inc. premium. Seen the difference in patination the body most likely once was covered. Two other figures from this artist are known.
