Ofoe figure, unrecorded Yoruba artist

Artwork Overview

unrecorded Yoruba artist, Ofoe figure
unrecorded Yoruba artist
1960s
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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Images

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.

Exhibitions