Barakat Gallery
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Artworks
  • Exhibitions
  • About
  • Contact
Menu
  • Menu

Yoruba

  • All
  • Masterpieces of African Art
  • African Masks
  • Akan, Asante, Fanti
  • Bambara
  • Baule
  • Benin
  • Bura
  • Chokwe
  • Dan
  • Dogon
  • Fang
  • Hemba, Luba, Shankadi
  • Igbo, Urhobo
  • Ife
  • Mangbetu
  • Nok, Katsina, Sokoto
  • Oceanic
  • Senufo, Kongo
  • Songye
  • Yoruba
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Yoruba Wooden Shrine Figure, 1850 CE - 1920 CE
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Yoruba Wooden Shrine Figure, 1850 CE - 1920 CE
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Yoruba Wooden Shrine Figure, 1850 CE - 1920 CE
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Yoruba Wooden Shrine Figure, 1850 CE - 1920 CE

Yoruba Wooden Shrine Figure, 1850 CE - 1920 CE

wood
height 31.1 cm
height 12 1/4 in
DA.412 (LSO)
Enquire
%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EYoruba%20Wooden%20Shrine%20Figure%3C/span%3E%2C%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E1850%20CE%20%20-%20%201920%20CE%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Ewood%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3Eheight%2031.1%20cm%3Cbr/%3E%0Aheight%2012%201/4%20in%3C/div%3E

Further images

  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 1 ) Thumbnail of additional image
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 2 ) Thumbnail of additional image
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 3 ) Thumbnail of additional image
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 4 ) Thumbnail of additional image
This beautifully patinated sculpture of a standing woman with a high coiffure, her hands resting on the rim of a mortar, was made by the Yoruba of Nigeria. The proportions...
Read more
This beautifully patinated sculpture of a standing woman with a high coiffure, her hands resting on the rim of a mortar, was made by the Yoruba of Nigeria. The proportions are adapted, with short legs, long legs, a compact torso, enormous breasts, a ringed neck and an oversized head with the hair dyed using Reckitts Blue. The cheeks are marked with the traditional triple scars, and additional scars from the corners of the eyes to the hairline, and a line of incised lashes beneath each eye. The patina is extremely well-developed. It is likely to be a shrine figure. The identity of the person portrayed is likely to be an acolyte of Shango.
Shango (or Sango) was the fourth Yoruba king of Oyo-Ile. He had numerous rather colourful character traits that led to a mixed public opinion. When forced to commit suicide, thunder and lightning threatened to destroy the city; his ex-subjects interpreted this as an act of retribution and deified him as the god of thunder, hoping to appease him and also to harness some of his power. Latterly, Shango became associated with twins, rainfall, and for punishing miscreants with lightning strikes. His symbol is the double-headed axe, although dogs, rams (his preferred sacrificial animal) and kneeling women holding offering bowls/cups are also strongly associated with him. Finally, he is associated with art, music and beautiful women, so it is perhaps little surprise that he is such a popular deity (orisha) in the Yoruba pantheon.
The Yoruba are a Central Nigerian tribal group, originally descended from a Hausa migration from the northeast in about 900 AD. A small kingdom – Ile Ife – was founded by Oduduwa, followed by great sociopolitical expansion into Southwest Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The influence of the city was felt far beyond these boundaries, however, and many smaller political entities were held under its sway. Communities were presided over by the Oba (king) and various senates (Ogboni), and councils made up of guild leaders, merchants and the lesser aristocracy (related to the Oba). The Yoruba have an exceptionally rich and diverse mythology, history and religious context, all of which are directly linked to their artistic output.
This is a beautiful piece of Yoruba statuary.
Close full details
Share
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Email
Previous
|
Next
41 
of  51

London

48 Albemarle Street,

London, W1S 4JW

info@barakatgallery.eu 

 

       


 

CONTACT | TEAM | PRESS 

 

Seoul
58-4, Samcheong-ro,
Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82 02 730 1949
barakat@barakat.kr
             

 

Los Angeles

941 N La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90069
+1 310 859 8408

contact@barakatgallery.com

  


 

 

Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Send an email
View on Google Maps
Manage cookies
Copyright © 2025 Barakat Gallery
Site by Artlogic


Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences
Close

Join our mailing list

Sign Up

* denotes required fields