Ofoe figure

unrecorded Yoruba artist, artist

Ofoe figure, 1960s

Where object was made: Nigeria

Material/technique: casting; brass

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 43 x 21 x 17 cm
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 16 15/16 x 8 1/4 x 6 11/16 in

Credit line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. H. Kenneth Palmer

Accession number: 2007.2765

Not on display

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Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"For Life's Sake: Arts from Africa," Oct-1983, Reinhild Kauenhoven Janzen
The messenger of death, Ofoe, is sent by the bringer of death, Ogiuwu, to take human life. According to Paula Ben-Amos, he is represented as the pursuer, a figure without body, only legs with which to chase the victim and arms with which to capture him. "It is said that Ofoe has no mercy and yields to no sacrifice or entreaty." The earliest documented cast bronze images of Ofoe date to the 16th century.