-40%
African tribal art - Igbo
$ 26.4
- Description
- Size Guide
Description
This carving is a zoomorphic "messenger" character carved from soft native wood by an Igbo individual. It is a messenger fetish of the Agwu Isii cult.According to the Cengage Encyclodpedia of Igbo culture: "Agwu. Also known as Agwusi, Agwu is the Igbo trickster god, similar to the Akan god Ananse and the Yoruba god Esu. It is not known whether any of these deities is male or female. Rather, the trickster is considered capable of being either sex at anytime, even both at once, or neither sex at all. Respected and feared, Agwu is capable of sowing confusion in the mind of even the clearest reasoner. Agwu, however, can also clarify confusion, even when it is caused by human ignorance, the finite capacity of the human mind, or the evil actions of other persons or gods. If it pleases Agwu to protect or “work with” a thinker, unparalleled lucidity may be attained"
The actual creature(s) depicted in this carving, if any, are known only to the Igbo Agwu carver, it is a "spiritual" representation.
We acquired this object in 1994, assuring us that it is at least 30 years old as of today.