Yoruba Fetish Figure Holding Bowl: Female

Calm face, crested head, hands folded low, no hurry at all.

Yoruba carvers of Nigeria, West Africa, made this standing female figure in wood in the 20th century. Yoruba figures of this kind are commonly associated with shrines and with offerings made for blessing or protection. The woman stands on a small rectangular base, with a tall pointed crest rising from her head and wide, almond-shaped eyes. Her hands rest low at the waist, framing a rounded belly. The wood is dark and polished with a worn, uneven sheen.

About 14 inches tall. A dignified guest for any shelf, and a patient one.