African Yoruba Opon Igede lidded vessel Start Price USD 8,000.00 Current Price USD 8,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, July 16, 2008 End Time Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'African Yoruba Opon Igede lidded vessel' Description Title:  Opon Igede Type of Object: Container for Divination Equipment Ethnic Group: Yoruba Country of Origin: Nigeria Materials: Wood, Pigment Approximate Age: Dimensions: 23 inches Overall Condition: Good with signs of use.Information: Within the Yoruba pantheon of deities known as orishas,  the deity known as Ifa is the deity of divination solves problems, provides comfort, and explains the ways of the gods.  Individuals take direction and consolation from the Ifa diviner – the Babalawo (“the father of secrets”) whom they have consulted to resolve a particular problem or simply provide a psychological ‘tune-up’!  When not being used the Ifa priest keeps the ritually important divination equipment in a large lidded bowl called by the Yoruba ‘opon igede’.  This wonderfully carved opon igede is decorated with symbolic colors and a square divination board carved in shallow relief on the bowl of the container.  The removable lid shows three figures dancing with their arms interlaced to serve as a handle.  The lower bowl is supported by five figures with their arm stretched upwards to hold the bowl.  The larger kneeling female figure reaches out to additionally support the bowl with a baby on her back.  The opon igede has been covered with red, blue, yellow and white color fitting into Yoruba color symbolism.  Among the Yoruba the color white, known as funfun represents positive principals and protects against witches and malevolent forces.  When in groups of three a number of the colored forms resemble Yoruba facial markings.   This particularly well preserved and finely sculpted opon igede is a classic example of Yoruba carving with traditional symbolic imagery worked in relief.  In appearance it resembles the work of the great Yoruba  carver Olowe of Ise and if it is one of his works would be an important example of Yoruba art.    The piece deserves a good collection and is certainly of museum quality. References: Walker, R.A.,  Olowe of Ise, 1998.R. F. Thompson: Black Gods and Kings: Yoruba Art at UCLA, (Los Angeles, 1971)W. Fagg and J. Pemberton III: Yoruba Sculpture of West Africa, (New York, 1982) H. J. Drewal and J. Pemberton III, with R. Abiodun Yoruba: Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought, (New York, 1989)**029996** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!