LOT 0220 19th C. Nigerian Igbo Brass Ofo Shrine Figure
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West Africa, Nigeria, Igbo peoples, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A fascinating brass ritual object known as an ofo, presenting an abstract form that is seemingly spoon-shaped yet intended to resemble a bundle of ovo twigs and sitting upon 4 petite legs. Elaborately decorated, the intriguing piece displays a pair of suspension loops at one end. The top of the object is heavily adorned with a relief decorative program of target, spiral, plume-like, and undulating motifs. Ofos, like this example, serve as a receptacle of power among higher status families and function as a conduit to their ancestral past. They are highly symbolic objects, representing truth, authority, justice, law, and administrative power and seen as the link that exists between people and God Almighty, as well as a channel between the living, the dead, and those yet to be born. These highly revered objects are treated as heirlooms and passed down from generation to generation. Size: 6.3" L x 2.5" W x 1.7" H (16 cm x 6.4 cm x 4.3 cm)Similar Ofo shrine figures can be found at the Seattle Art Museum under accession numbers 2007.244 and 2007.245. Provenance: private Southern California collection, California, USA, acquired through descent in 2006; ex-private California collection, USA, before 2000 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #168129
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