A sculpturally robust and unusually styled Ibeji twin statue from Cote D'ivore. The Ivorian people of Cote D'ivore are known for having an extraordinarily high rate of multiple births in the world and it is seen as a special sign.
The death of one or both twins is regarded as a great calamity for the family, one which requires immediate appeasement of the soul of the deceased child. Though the cause of the high rate of twin births among Ivorian women has not been established, the cultural grieving process is well documented and may be observed in the carving of a figure known as twins image, which both represents the lost child and serves as a ritual point of contact with the soul of the deceased. The carving of the twins image is commissioned under the guidance of an oracle diviner, a priest, whom the parents consult in selecting the particular artist who will do the work. The sculpture itself represents a deceased infant, but is carved with features and attributes of an adult
The responsibility of caring for the twins is borne by the mother and female family members of subsequent generations. The sculpture is expected to avert evil from the household, strengthen the manifestations of family love, stare down death, illuminate the pathway through the valley of immortality, and bring good fortune to all who treat it with respect and offer it tokens of affection. Conversely, bad fortune and curses may be engendered if the twins is ignored.
Origin: Cote D'ivoire, Ivorian, people

Material: Wood and pigment
Dimensions:  Height: 43cm / Width: 17cm / Depth: 13cm
Condition:Good Patina.