Ref. 660

PROTECTIVE DOLL WITH SON, AS A GODDESS (Yemaya?).
YORUBA ETHNIA. NIGERIA, BENIN OR TOGO. S. XIX-XX.

Height: 30 cm
Width: 10.5 cm

Peculiar wooden sculpture of the Yoruba religion, with interesting attributes that relate it to a possible divinity, such as a helmet, for war or hunting, which has remains of blue pigmentation (water). It shows a necklace with a combination of red (life – war) and blacks death – peace) pearls. He takes a child in his arms, feeding himself from her mother’s chest. It has aristocratic symbols such as tattoos on the face and a metal bracelet, probably tin. There is a small label on the back of the figure that would seem to indicate in 1888. It has a very good state of preservation, except for a crack in the base and the lack of metal inlay in one eye. It has a patina with some earth and applications due to worship.

Origin: Ex. Doctor Dr. William Stewart (New York). It was adcquired before 1970 in Atlanta to the collector and writer William Arnett.

Price: 2,500 €