Maternity Figure- Wood – Igbo – Nigeria

Typical wooden maternity figure from the Igbo tribe. The faces of the large figure are covered in white clay (phembe). The 8,000.000 IGBO people – who live primarily from farming – settled in the northern part of the Niger River Delta, in an area of forests and swamps. Village councils composed of the eldest people from each family govern the tribe. Their power is counterbalanced by secret societies.

Exhibiting a wide diversity in size, symbolism, intimacy and style. African maternity figures depict the ideals of beauty, fertility, character and action and many signify much more, whether the primordial mother or a legendary founding ancestor. Commonly used as shrine figures, they were often objects of petitions or prayers for fertility and successful births.

Provenance: Manfred Schäfer collection, ex- gallery owner from Ulm, Germany.