Lot 356
356
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
A YORUBA COWRIE-SHELL 'HOUSE OF THE HEAD' AND FIVE AFRICAN COILWORK BASKETS

20TH CENTURY

Details
A YORUBA COWRIE-SHELL 'HOUSE OF THE HEAD' AND FIVE AFRICAN COILWORK BASKETS
20TH CENTURY
13½ in. (34 cm.) high and smaller
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

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Lot Essay

The ile ori or 'house of the head' is made to contain the ibori, a small conical leather pouch sewn with cowrie shells which symbolizes a person's 'inner head'. According to Hans Witte (1994) this 'inner head' presides over a person's destiny and acts and his ambassador to the other world and is therefore an object of much personal devotion and sacrifice.

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