Idoma Statue—nigeria
Origin. Nigeria
Tribe Name. IDOMA
Material. Wood
Dimensions. 85 cm
Shipping Method. Colissimo/DHL within 24–48 hours
This sculpture depicts a standing female figure attributable to the artistic tradition of the Idoma people of Nigeria, likely related to the broad group of female cult figures known as Anjenu or Ekotame. However, precisely identifying its function would require documented provenance: experts note that Idoma sculptures with similar forms have at times been successively classified as Anjenu and then reinterpreted as Ekotame.
Description of the Work: The figure is carved from wood in a frontal, hieratic, and highly symmetrical style. The female figure stands with her arms extended along her body and her hands positioned on either side of her thighs. The short, powerful legs and widely splayed feet give the whole a sense of stability and monumentality. Femininity is deliberately accentuated by the highly prominent conical breasts and, above all, by the strongly emphasized navel region. This emphasis on the breasts and navel is found in major Idoma female sculptures and may refer, depending on their ritual context, to motherhood, fertility, and the continuity of the lineage. The figures known as Ekotame—an expression translated as “breast spirit”—are notably interpreted as powerful, protective ancestral figures.
The face is one of the most remarkable elements. It is covered in light pigmentation, evoking the traditional use of kaolin, which contrasts sharply with the dark brown of the body. The narrow, almond-shaped eyes, the geometric nose, and the protruding mouth give the face a serious and introspective expression. Painted or incised marks on the cheeks appear to resemble scarification or body paint. The contrasting treatment of a light face and a dark body is well documented in Idoma sculpture; the British Museum, for example, houses a female figure whose body is dark while her face remains light. The head is crowned by an imposing, tall, ribbed crest-like headdress, separated from the forehead by several horizontal ridges. This type of elaborate headdress is also an important feature of Idoma female statuary. The ears feature elements carved in relief that may suggest ornaments.
The body displays a particularly elaborate polychromatic scheme, alternating between brown-black, cream, or white tones, with a few bluish traces on the face. The light-colored motifs highlighting the shoulders, chest, arms, and abdomen may represent scarifications, body paintings, or stylized versions of these. A loincloth made of dark red textile fibers—clearly distinct from the carved wood—completes the figure’s appearance.Possible Function and Interpretation: In Idoma culture, certain female sculptures were kept in shrines and associated with the Anjenu, spirits linked in particular to water and nature. These figures may have played a role in practices concerning health, fertility, and relations with the spiritual world.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds several female Anjenu figures from the Okpoto-Idoma, made of wood and pigments.
However, a second interpretation deserves special consideration here: that of an Ekotame figure, associated with lineage. Idoma female sculptures formerly described as Anjenu are now interpreted by some specialists as Ekotame, protective symbols ensuring the protection and perpetuation of the lineage. They could be adorned with jewelry and loincloths and appear during important community ceremonies or funeral rites.
Private French collection.
Price negotiable
Tribe Name. IDOMA
Material. Wood
Dimensions. 85 cm
Shipping Method. Colissimo/DHL within 24–48 hours
This sculpture depicts a standing female figure attributable to the artistic tradition of the Idoma people of Nigeria, likely related to the broad group of female cult figures known as Anjenu or Ekotame. However, precisely identifying its function would require documented provenance: experts note that Idoma sculptures with similar forms have at times been successively classified as Anjenu and then reinterpreted as Ekotame.
Description of the Work: The figure is carved from wood in a frontal, hieratic, and highly symmetrical style. The female figure stands with her arms extended along her body and her hands positioned on either side of her thighs. The short, powerful legs and widely splayed feet give the whole a sense of stability and monumentality. Femininity is deliberately accentuated by the highly prominent conical breasts and, above all, by the strongly emphasized navel region. This emphasis on the breasts and navel is found in major Idoma female sculptures and may refer, depending on their ritual context, to motherhood, fertility, and the continuity of the lineage. The figures known as Ekotame—an expression translated as “breast spirit”—are notably interpreted as powerful, protective ancestral figures.
The face is one of the most remarkable elements. It is covered in light pigmentation, evoking the traditional use of kaolin, which contrasts sharply with the dark brown of the body. The narrow, almond-shaped eyes, the geometric nose, and the protruding mouth give the face a serious and introspective expression. Painted or incised marks on the cheeks appear to resemble scarification or body paint. The contrasting treatment of a light face and a dark body is well documented in Idoma sculpture; the British Museum, for example, houses a female figure whose body is dark while her face remains light. The head is crowned by an imposing, tall, ribbed crest-like headdress, separated from the forehead by several horizontal ridges. This type of elaborate headdress is also an important feature of Idoma female statuary. The ears feature elements carved in relief that may suggest ornaments.
The body displays a particularly elaborate polychromatic scheme, alternating between brown-black, cream, or white tones, with a few bluish traces on the face. The light-colored motifs highlighting the shoulders, chest, arms, and abdomen may represent scarifications, body paintings, or stylized versions of these. A loincloth made of dark red textile fibers—clearly distinct from the carved wood—completes the figure’s appearance.Possible Function and Interpretation: In Idoma culture, certain female sculptures were kept in shrines and associated with the Anjenu, spirits linked in particular to water and nature. These figures may have played a role in practices concerning health, fertility, and relations with the spiritual world.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds several female Anjenu figures from the Okpoto-Idoma, made of wood and pigments.
However, a second interpretation deserves special consideration here: that of an Ekotame figure, associated with lineage. Idoma female sculptures formerly described as Anjenu are now interpreted by some specialists as Ekotame, protective symbols ensuring the protection and perpetuation of the lineage. They could be adorned with jewelry and loincloths and appear during important community ceremonies or funeral rites.
Private French collection.
Price negotiable
4 500 €
Period: 20th century
Style: Tribal Art
Condition: Good condition
Material: Solid wood
Length: 85
Height: 85
Reference (ID): 1821689
Availability: In stock
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