OMU

细节

A FINE YORUBA BRASS BELL-HEAD
Omu
The bulging eyes with hatched borders, two curved bands of hatched scarification to each cheek joining the mouth, a small triangular panel below the lower lip, two semicircular keloids cast on the forehead, necklace with circular pendant cast in relief, the asymmetrical coiffure with cast cross-hatching to the left side, three cylindrical projections at the centre, the right side of the head of plain form with S-shaped motif cast at the centre, a central band with cast ornament at the centre of the head joined to the suspension loop, dark green patina, from Ijebu-Ode
19cm. high

来源

Maurice Bonnefoy, Paris

出版

Robbins, W.M., and Nooter, N.I., African Art in American Collections, Washington D.C., 1989, p.251, fig.665

展览

Iwa Yoruba, Mead Art Museum, Amherst College, 1983, p.11, no.67

注意事项

' ! ' : For each lot the Buyer's Premium is calculated as 30.505% of the hammer price up to a value of €110,000 plus 19.2% of any amount in excess of €110,000.

拍品专文

P. Amaury Talbot in his The Peoples of Southern Nigeria (1926) illustrates as fig.225 (opp. p.924) two very similar bell-heads, which he describes as "bronze heads, Ijebu Ode Yoruba". William Fagg, when describing another example that was sold at Christie's in London (24 October 1978, lot 74), relates how, on a visit in 1950 to the Alaketu of Ketu in Dahomey (rep. Benin), he was shown two "magnificent works of the Ijebu brass casters' art" which he was allowed to photograph - and indeed he reproduced two of his photographs in the catalogue. He goes on to say that at Ijebu-Ode certain chiefs - Olisa, Egbo and Apebi, and also the Awujale (king) himself - were each required by custom to have one omo cast as an image of himself, which was worn after his death by his successor, hanging from the right shoulder and resting on the left hip, in ceremonial processions. Doubtless similar institutions existed in other towns where Ijebu omo are found. Another omo was in the George Ortiz collection (Sotheby's, 29 June 1978, lot 42). The present example is an exceptionally fine casting of great beauty.