Pair of male and female alusi tattoos in wood,... Lot 48

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 scarifications cover the abdomen and face of these statues. The heads are surmounted by high sagittal ridges. Kept in several sanctuaries, these statues could be taken out on the occasion of the first harvests. 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