Search Results:

Viewing Record 1 of 11 >>
View : Light Box | List View | Image List | Detailed
 


Maker(s):Unknown
Culture:Nigerian, Yoruba people
Title:Agere Ifa
Date Made:early 20th century
Type:Ceremonial
Materials:Wood
Place Made:Africa; Nigeria
Measurements:height 12"
Accession Number:  AC 1999.17
Credit Line:The Barry D. Maurer (Class of 1959) Collection of African art purchased with Amherst College Discretionary Fund and funds from H. Axel Schupf (Class of 1957)
Museum Collection:  Mead Art Museum at Amherst College
1999_17.jpg

Label Text:
An important divination ritual implement, the agere Ifa is a bowl that holds ikin, sixteen sacred palm nuts used by a Yoruba diviner while "casting Ifa." More than a mere container, it is perceived as kind of mini-temple, while its personalized motifs depict Ifa as a way of finding aid for life's struggles: at center an Ifa priest, surrounded by his wives, sits before the Ifa tray, or opon. Around the perimeter of the pedestal, the carver depicted clients’ most important blessing requests: riches, symbolized by prisoners of war; children, represented by a mother toting a baby on her back; and longevity, symbolized by a rooster pecking a snake who is, at the same time, attempting to swallow a tortoise.

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=AC+1999.17

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.

8 Related Media Items

1999_17.jpg
1999_17.jpg
1999_17.jpg
1999_17_e.jpg
1999_17.jpg
1999_17_d.jpg
1999_17.jpg
1999_17_c.jpg
1999_17.jpg
1999_17_b.jpg
1999_17.jpg
1999_17_h.jpg
1999_17.jpg
1999_17_g.jpg
1999_17.jpg
1999_17_f.jpg
Viewing Record 1 of 11 >>