Accession Number
1985/1.87

Title
Ancestral Shrine Figure (Male)

Artist(s)
Igbo

Artist Nationality
Igbo (Southern Nigerian style, culture)

Object Creation Date
circa 1940

Medium & Support
carved wood

Dimensions
4 ft. 8 15/16 in. x 12 13/16 in. x 8 7/8 in. (144.5 x 32.5 x 22.5 cm);4 ft. 8 15/16 in. x 12 13/16 in. x 8 7/8 in. (144.5 x 32.5 x 22.5 cm)

Credit Line
Anonymous

Label copy
Among the Igbo of the north, wooden figures are carved to symbolize deities associated with the four days of the Igbo week and the local markets held on those days. They are housed in a decorated compound and are attended by priests who wash, polish, dress and present the figures on their special market day and annual ceremony of renewal. They receive offerings to honor and appease them. These gods are based on an idealized human model and show the attributes of wealth and power.

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
figure

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
ancestor figures
ancestors
males
men (male humans)
nudes
nudes (representations)
reliquary figures
standing