spirit figure

unrecorded Igbo artist, artist

spirit figure, circa 1950

Where object was made: Nigeria

Material/technique: pigment; staining; wood; carving

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 63 x 9 x 8.5 cm
Object Height/Width/Depth (Height x Width x Depth): 24 13/16 x 3 9/16 x 3 3/8 in

Credit line: Gift of Larry W. Welling

Accession number: 2007.3135

Not on display

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Label texts

Roots and Journeys: Encountering Global Arts and Cultures

Once worshipped in domestic shrines, these two spirit figures embody denizens of the Other World. Because the Guro believe that a bloblo bla, or spirit wife, can cause inferitility if angered, her carved likeness was lavished with gifts, praise, and attention. The Igbo spirit figure may represent the earth goddess Ala, who has similarly androgynous features and holds a curved machete similar in form to the blade-like headdress on this statue.

Exhibition Label:
"Roots and Journeys: Encountering Global Arts and Cultures," Jun-2013, Cassandra Mesick
Once worshipped in domestic shrines, these two spirit figures embody denizens of the Other World. Because the Guro believe that a bloblo bla, or spirit wife, can cause inferitility if angered, her carved likeness was lavished with gifts, praise, and attention. The Igbo spirit figure may represent the earth goddess Ala, who has similarly androgynous features and holds a curved machete similar in form to the blade-like headdress on this statue.

Exhibition Label:
"For Life's Sake: Arts from Africa," Oct-1983, Reinhild Kauenhoven Janzen
"Among the Ibo, individual families maintained shrines to their ancestors in which they placed statues commemorating the male line, their wives, children and some of the spirits which were helpful to them." (F. Starkweather). This apparently androgynous figure, adorned with loin cloth, belt and blade-like projection from the head, suggests that it once functioned as a spirit figure in a shrine. The strong upward surge of the powerful forms is accentuated by the visual counterpoint rhythms of belt and girdle. The figure may represent the androgynous earth goddess Ala. The blade-like extension from the top of the head may be a reference to a machete knife which is an attribute of the earth goddess.