This sculpure is from the Yoruba or Dan Tribe of Ivory Coast. The Dan statues are not representation of ancestors or spirits. These figures, which were commissioned by powerful chiefs as three-dimensional portraits of their favorite spouses function as maternity figures with babies on their back. They are kept hidden inside houses and are only revealed during important occasions such as visits by foreign dignitaries. Material: wood Size: 24”, W. 6”, D. 5”

This statue is a representation of a Yoruba art. The Yoruba people, numbering over 12 million, are the largest nation in Africa with an art-producing tradition.

This statue is a representation of a Yoruba art. The Yoruba people, numbering over 12 million, are the largest nation in Africa with an art-producing tradition.

This statue is a representation of a Yoruba art. The Yoruba people, numbering over 12 million, are the largest nation in Africa with an art-producing tradition.