This Tiv figure from Nigeria was carved into the shape of a seated woman breastfeeding her infant child. It has been painted a vibrant yellow color with red highlights. She stands 22 inches tall and weighs 8.5 pounds. There is some wood deterioration on the feet and some cracking and imperfections throughout the piece. Please inspect photos carefully.
Sale!
Tiv Style African Maternity Figure 22″ – Nigeria
Original price was: $375.00.$187.50Current price is: $187.50.
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| Type of Object | Figure, statue |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Nigeria |
| Ethnicity | Tiv |
| Material | Wood, Pigment |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height (Inches) | 22" |
| Width (Inches) | 10” |
| Depth (Inches) | 9” |
| Weight (Pounds) | 8.5 lbs |
| Overall Condition | Wood deterioration on feet, cracks on legs and body |
Tribe Information
About the Tiv people
“The 1,000,000 Tiv people live from farming fields on the left bank of the Benue River and take their name from their eponymous ancestor. They carve figures which are either large and elongated or naturally proportioned with round heads and occasionally scarification at the corners of the mouth and a crested coiffure. Some of these figures were used as posts for reception huts, while others, called Ihambe, are to linked to the concept of fecundity and marriage. Tiv blacksmiths have achieved notoriety for their ‘prestige’ adzes in which the handle ends in a stylized human head with a blade sprouting from it. These are used during festivities and important meetings. Their metal output also includes small copper figures with splayed legs and rounded heads”
Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.