Yoruba Male Ibeji or 'Twins' Figure

Orange-brown and slim, with a coral bead collar and a silvery bangle on each wrist

This male Ibeji or ‘twins’ figure is Yoruba, from Nigeria, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is painted & carved wood & silver. Though the figures stand for infants who have passed, they are carved as adults in their prime, suggesting strength, vitality and fertility through broad shoulders for boys and full forms for girls. A slender standing figure with a swept-back crest, incised lines on the face and torso, and rounded breasts. A ring of orange-red beads encircles the neck, and a thin silvery bracelet hangs at each side. The finish is warm and glossy. It is 3.25 inches wide, 2.5 deep and 10.5 high.

The bangles are the only accessories, and they are plenty.