Igbo
Wawa or vicinity, Nigeria
Coastal West Africa
Shrine Figure (Ntkekpe)
INV-1809
Igbo
Wawa or vicinity, Nigeria
Coastal West AfricaMid–20th century
Shrine Figure (Ntkekpe)
Igbo Wawa or vicinity, Nigeria Coastal West Africa →igboArts of Africaafrican ArtCoastal West Africaearthenwarearts of Africa
Date
Mid–20th century
Medium
Terracotta and iron
Dimensions
72.4 × 30.5 × 52.1 cm (28 1/2 × 12 × 20 1/2 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Samuel P. Avery Endowment and Edward E. Ayer Endowment in memory of Charles L. Hutchinson
Among the Igbo, pottery and ceramic sculpture is the domain of women. Terracotta figures can accompany shrines in a wide variety of contexts, including at compound entrances, outside of houses, in domestic gardens, and in small shrine houses. This figure and another one of a seated woman are undoubtedly the work of a single artist [see 2003.84]. The man is seated on a cylindrical stool. He wears a necklace with three large beads and holds a dagger in his hand.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
