Twin Figures with Glass and Metal Ornamentation
Item
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Accession Number
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2024.29.
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Title
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Twin Figures with Glass and Metal Ornamentation
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Ethnic Group
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Yoruba
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Subject
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Figure|Ritual|West Africa
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Country
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Nigeria
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Date
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Early 20th Century
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Medium
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Wood, glass beads, metal, pigment
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Format
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H x W x D: 11 in x 4 in x 3 3/4 in (27.94 cm x 10.16 cm x 9.525 cm)
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Description
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The wooden carved female twin figures are highly decorated with dark pigments, glass beads and metal jewelry. The bodies are rounded, kneeling with their arms at their sides. The eyes are closed with thinly incised lines marking the eyelids. Scarification patterns run vertically up and down the cheeks. Twin figures were created to commemorate either one child or the set of twins after death. Twins are believed to have spiritual powers in communities of Nigeria like Yoruba, thus memorial figures were often created.
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Type
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Twin Figures
