Description
The mother figure of this vessel from the Southern Ekiti region represents a devotee who kneels before the gods. The vessel once held the 16 sacred palm nuts essential to divination rituals. The object was used by a priest as a medium through which to communicate with the god of fate, Orunmila, in order to gain insight into an individual’s destiny or to understand the cause of misfortune.
Provenance
Charles Davis, by purchase in Togo ca.1979-1982 (ca. 1979 to 1982-1994); (Davis Gallery, New Orleans, LA, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (by 1994); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1994-)
Accession Number
1994.200
Medium
Wood and colorant
Dimensions
Overall: 31.7 x 15.7 x 15.9 cm (12 1/2 x 6 3/16 x 6 1/4 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund