West Africa, Nigeria, Yoruba people, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A tall wooden statue in the style of the palace of Ikere, where all sculptures were made by Olowe of Ise in the first few decades of the 20th century. A woman stands with her hands raised, holding some kind of bowl or possibly fruit or vegetable atop her head. She wars a series of bangle-style bracelets that cover the entirety of her forearms. She wears a tall, conical hat, and has long, pointed breasts beneath some kind of large triangular necklace pendant. She also seems to be carved wearing a belt, but that losses to the wood have now destroyed in large part. Around one arm is a strand with two large, deep blue beads on it. Size: 9.5" W x 29.5" H (24.1 cm x 74.9 cm)

The palaces of Ikere and Ise, like all Yoruba palaces, were focused inward, with open courts in the center and rectilinear buildings around the perimeter. Ikere, in northern Yoruba territory, and Ise, eighteen miles distant, both had groups of magnificent posts and columns carved by a man named Olowe that formed the outlines of verandas in the palace. Many of these columns included figures like this woman. In some cases, women were carved towering over men, which has been interpreted as showing the symbolic power of the wives, especially the king's principal wife, in the palace. The conical crown this woman wears is also a symbol of royal power.

Provenance: Ex-Private Orange County, CA collection

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#118290

Termite damage/losses to wood as shown including to top of her head, below her waist, and one eye.