Ogoni/ Niger Delta () Altar Figure, African SUPERB Start Price USD 595.00 Current Price USD 595.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, July 20, 2008 End Time Sunday, July 27, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Ogoni/ Niger Delta () Altar Figure, African SUPERB' Description Title: Standing Male Figure with Movable Arms Type of Object: Carving Ethnic Group: Ibibio (Ogoni), Igbo,Ijo or ' Country of Origin: Nigeria (Niger River Delta') Materials: Wood and Pigment Approximate Age: 20th Cnetury Dimensions: 24 Inches Overall Condition: GoodInformation:This intriguing sculpture or altar piece is problematical in identification and can be attributed to a number of different peoples.  It shares certain stylistic traits with sculptures from Gabon and to others along the lower reaches of he Niger River.  Between the Niger Delta River and Cross River regions of Nigeria a number of groups including the Igbo, Ibibio, Ijo and Ogoni live  intermixing and exchanging artistic traditions, secret society masquerades and cultural patterns.  The Ogoni people are a small group somewhat isolated along the Atlantic coast where through time they developed their own culture and style of carving while drawing upon the sculptural forms of their neighbors.  Carved figures among the Ogoni are primarily seen attached to the top of masquerade headdresses (Ka-elu) for the men’s Ekpo secret society and less often as free-standing figures.   This male stands with legs slightly bent and with their arms bent at the elbow  and whose body is shaped as an offertory bowl as a complex gesture to receive gifts and offerings or to share these gifts with the spirits.    Though their specific use among the Ogoni is difficult to define the figures probably served as altar objets representing ancestors or title-holders.   Ogoni figures are often sculpted as puppets with movable arms and legs and with brightly painted designs on their bodies.  The fact that these figures are nearly natural in their color attests to their age and the wearing down of some of the surfaces re-enforces the idea of their age and long use.  The arms are pegged into the body  with hands resting on the abdomen.  As noted this identification is conditional upon certain shared with the Ogoni and the figure could well be placed among another group.  **029138** 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!