Pair of male and female alusi tattoos in wood,... Lot 14

Pair of male and female alusi tattoos in wood, pigments and raffia. The narrow faces have tight features: stretched eyes, busted nose, wide half-open mouth. The treatment of the open palms turned upwards is characteristic. Black scarification marks cover the abdomen and face of these statues. The heads are surmounted by high sagittal ridges. Kept together in sanctuaries, these statues could be brought out for the first harvest. Parts of the lower limbs are missing. Igbo style - Nigeria Female statue H : 59 cm W : 17 cm Male statue H : 60 cm W : 21 cm Bibliography : COLE M. Herbert, Visions of Igbo Africa, Editions 5 continents, Milan, 2013, p. 33, p.131