Standing Male Figure with Hat, wood, African (Nigerian, Ijo), XXc on base cat. card dims H 32' Figure wears European hat, medicine gourd suspended from neck; feet are missing.

Shrine Figure, 20th century

Ijoexpand_more

Woodexpand_more

Gift of Jerome Jossexpand_more  82.137.3

Not on Viewexpand_more

While some African cultures send their deceased into the afterlife with worldly possessions, or build tombs close to home to maintain connections, other cultures dedicate shrines to their loved ones that support both the living and the dead. The Ijo people of Nigeria have elaborate funeral practices that include carving shrine figures like the one on view here. The figure wears a European hat, a locally recognized sign of power and prestige. It signifies that the deceased was someone of a higher class, probably a wealthy trader who had access to, and control over, trade with Europeans.

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Details
Title
Shrine Figure
Role
Artist
Dimension
32 in. (81.3 cm)
Accession Number
82.137.3
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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Standing Male Figure with Hat, wood, African (Nigerian, Ijo), XXc on base cat. card dims H 32' Figure wears European hat, medicine gourd suspended from neck; feet are missing.

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