Maternity Figure
Igbo
Description
Subject Matter:
Ntekpe, or ‘children of the shrine’, are figures placed in Igbo family shrines by women dealing with infertility. Within this context, the figure becomes both an offering and a display of the desire for children. Usually made by older women, these figures often feature a single mother and child or a male and female pair.
References Cited:
Cole, Herbert M. and Chike C. Aniakor. 1984. Igbo Arts: Community and Cosmos. Los Angeles: UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History.
LaGamma, Alisa. 2000. "Art and Oracle: Spirit Voices of Africa." African Arts 33.1: 52-69.
LaGamma, Alisa and John Pemberton. 2000. Art and Oracle: African Art and Rituals of Divination. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Physical Description:
Seated female figure holding a child on her lap. The figure has a bracelet on each wrist and a pattern of incised lines on the chest and neck. The face also has scarification marks along the forehead, nose, and on each side of the eyes.
Usage Rights:
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