Pokia Family Atelier of Ifoko (attributed to)

Ancestor Memorial Screen (duein fubara)

late 19th-early 20th century

Category
Culture
Kalabari Ijo
Place Made
Nigeria: Town of Abonnema
Materials
Wood, wicker and pigment
Measurements
42 x 30 x 15 in (106.68 x 76.2 x 38.1 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, George S. Frierson, Jr. Fund
Accession #
97.160
Description

Rectangular screen with horizontal wicker caning and three vertical braids in caning. Screen has light blue border, scalloped on inner side. One large figure is centered on screen, with two smaller figures flanking it, and two smaller heads surmounting screen, all with white circular eyes and black pupils, black beards, and sharp white teeth painted of face's surface. Large figure wears headdress with animal motif, surmounted by seven points consisting of rods of assorted shape, and holds sword. Two flanking figures hold a sword (left) and a brush or paddle (right) and have spiked coiffures. All three have outstretched legs bent at knees, white dot patterning in inverted "Y" shape on chest, and delineated pectoral muscles. The two heads on top have conical headdresses with ridged, inverted bases, and each with two parallel rods crossing the top of the cone and one smaller rod protruding out of cone's top.