190614 - Tribal Very Rare And Old African Ijo Fish Figure - Nigeria.
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:5102 | Maker: Ijo people |
| Original/Reproduction: Original | Material: Wood |
Very impressive abstract Tribal used african Fish figure from the Ijo, Nigeria. This type of Fish figures are used in ceremonies in honor of the water spirits. Hand carved from a single piece of wood, with color pigment.65 cm long.Numbering 200, 000 to 350, 000, the Ijo people live mainly in the creeks and mangrove swamps of the Niger Delta area. Being fishermen and traders they depend upon the water for food and communication. The Ijo are divided into two groups: the Kalabari-Ij...o, east of the Nun River, and the western or central Ijo, who live to the west and northwest of this river. The art of both groups is characterized by a schematized approach, whereby most works of the central Ijo evince a higher degree of stylization and abstraction than those done in the Kalabari regional style. Yet also found in the western area are more realistic masks in the form of fish or animals, which are worn on the forehead. However, the best known forehead masks of the central Ijo, which embody water spirits (owuamapu), contain depictions of human heads built up of geometric shapes and combined with zoomorphic or abstract elements. Besides ancestors and deceased local heroes, water spirits play an important role in the religious ideas of the Ijo. They believe that these spirits are like humans in terms of their strengths and weaknesses and that before their birth, human beings live among them. Once born, the Ijo maintain contact with them through prayers in order to gain their favors. Celebrations in honor of the water spirits lasting several days are held annually, either at the beginning of the year or the time of high water, in order to gain the spirits’ goodwill and insure the group’s welfare. In the course of festivities various masqueraders embodying the water spirits perform, and the presence of the spirits, by whom they feel possessed, is manifested in the intensity of their dancing. The Ijo masksfor the cults of the water spirits are made in the form of aquatic animals, especially hippopotamus and crocodiles. The western Ijo use the figures, in which the head of the household is represented upon a highly schematic quadruped that is said to represent the guardian spirit of the family. Among the eastern Ijo, shrines for the water spirits have figures that are often large though frequently kept hidden. They also have masks, similar to those of the western Ijo, worn by men of the Ekine society. In addition, there are shrines that contain sculptures for the village heroes and ancestors. In some Kalabari communities, rectangular screens are fashioned by carpentry into a low-relief frontal group in which a commemorated ancestor is flanked by supporting figures. All Ijo sculpture exhibits a four-square schematic style that contrasts starkly with the relative naturalism of surrounding styles, such as those of Yorubaland or Benin. A SUMMARY OF OUR AFRICA-GALLERY SELLING POLICIES The stand is NOT included.Payment - PayPal preferred. For other payment methods please contact us before bidding. Shipping - We ship worldwide. We try and get shipments out as quickly as possible after payment, usually shipping four times weekly. Combined shipping - For buyers of multiple items please email us when done shopping for your combined invoice with reduced shipping fees. For urgent deliveries we can arrange courier shipments via DHL (additional charges incurred to be covered by the buyer). Delivery – Delivery to most destinations is anywhere between 2 to 8 business days inside Europe and 16 to 21 business days to the rest of the world, after receiving our email confirmation that the item has been shipped. Parcels shipped from the Netherlands are sent using the Post NL and the parcel status is traceable online. Refunds & Returns – We are aiming for your complete satisfaction. If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase please return the item to us for a complete refund or exchange. No hassles, no questions asked. Refunds will be issued via PayPal or by Bank only. The shipping cost are not refund. Please Contact Us – For any questions, concerns, or clarifications before bidding on or purchasing an item. We are usually able to respond within 24 hours. To avoid spam filters please establish initial contact through the eBay messaging system. Thank you, Gijs van Kuijk.
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