An Ewe Figure, "venavi" Lot n° 29

Figure, "venavi" Ewe, Ghana / Togo Mit Sockel / with base Wood. H 20 cm. Provenance: - Galerie Walu, Zurich. - German private collection, Düsseldorf (1982). - Jean David, Basel (2023). Twins have always been puzzled over: deified or demonized, in legends and myths, even in astrology, we find the pairs as an expression of the fascination that emanates from them. This is also the case with the Yoruba people in south-western Nigeria, who have been proven to have the highest twin birth rate in the world. The Ewe also attribute special supernatural powers to twins. On the one hand, they bring luck, health and prosperity to the family and, on the other, they can ward off disaster, illness and death. For this reason, they enjoy special interest throughout their lives. For the Ewe, twins have a common indivisible soul. If one of the twins dies, the balance of this unity is disturbed and the surviving twin is consequently endangered. To avoid this, a wooden figure, called a venavi, is consecrated in a ceremonial ritual as a symbolic substitute home for the soul of the deceased. The well-being of the other twin then depends on the care and veneration of this venavi. At the same time, another figure is made to house the soul of the second twin. Once both twins have died, the figures continue to be carefully guarded and kept as mementos until no one can remember the deceased. CHF 50 / 100 Condition: The condition (wear, eventual cracks, tear, other imperfections and the effects of aging etc. if applicable) of this lot is as visible on the multiple photos we have uploaded for your documentation. Please feel free to contact Hammer Auktionen for all questions you might have regarding this lot (info@hammerauktionen.ch). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Hammer Auctions shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. In the rare event that the item did not conform to the lot description in the sale, Hammer Auktionen is here to help. Buyers may return the item for a full refund provided you notify Hammer Auktionen within 5 days of receiving the item. -------------------------------------------- The condition (possible wear, signs of use, cracks, possible other damage and signs of age, etc.) of this lot can be seen in the photos we have uploaded for your documentation. If you have any questions about this item, please do not hesitate to contact Hammer Auctions (info@hammerauktionen.ch). The information regarding the condition of the items provided for the convenience of interested parties is an opinion only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Hammer Auctions accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. In the rare event that the item does not match the description in the catalog, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the lot for a full refund provided they notify Hammer Auctions within 5 days of receiving the lot.