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Tall Carved Wooden Oracle or Divination Tapper "Iroke Ifa", Yoruba People, 1930s
About the Item
Tall hand-carved wooden oracle or divination tapper "Iroke Ifa" statue, showing a kneeling woman holding her breasts. Yoruba, Nigeria, circa 1930s.
Yoruba belief specifies that each person kneels to choose a destiny before birth. If this request is made humbly and deemed reasonable, one's character and success can be established for life.
There is a small crack in the front, please refer to the photos.
The numbers are the inventory numbers from Pennsylvania State University and Lehigh University. Exhibited: The Pennsylvania State University - Museum of Art permanent collection; The Lehigh University - Art Galleries permanent collection and The
Provenance: The collection of Dr and Mrs John E. Swanson.
Dr John Swanson and his wife Marian lived from 1966 - 1981 in Lagos, Nigeria where Dr Swanson was the advisor to the National Universities Commission and later on the chief planning officer of the University Of Ibadan, Nigeria.
During their time in Africa, the Swansons started to collect African art. In 1973 a part of their collection, circa 120 pieces went on loan to The Pennsylvania State University Museum of Art, where they remained until 1978.
In 1981 Dr Swanson passed away and his wife Marian never returned to Africa. In 1982 Mrs. Swanson lent 130 pieces to the Lehigh University Art Gallery where they remained until 1987. A few pieces were also lent to Lafayette College - Williams Art Center for an exhibition titled "Plainly Geometric - Selections of Art from West Africa".
In 2018 Mrs. Swanson passed away.
- Creator:Yoruba People (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 18.12 in (46 cm)Width: 3.55 in (9 cm)Depth: 3.55 in (9 cm)
- Style:Tribal (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1930s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor structural damages. Small crack in the front.
- Seller Location:Aramits, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6432238723512
About the Seller
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1stDibs seller since 2022
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Typical response time: 2 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Oloron-Sainte-Marie, France
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
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