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Veranda Post (Òpó Ògògá)

Wooden sculpture of seated king surrounded by family.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • Wooden sculpture of seated king surrounded by family.

Date:

1910-14

Artist:

Olowe of Ise (died 1938)
Yòrùbá: Èkìtì; Ikere, Nigeria
Coastal West Africa

About this artwork

One of four posts sculpted for the palace of the king (ogoga) of Ikere, this evocative image of the Yoruba concept of a divine ruler is a masterwork of Olowe of Ise. The renowned artist’s dynamic style can be distinguished by the interrelationships between figures, their exaggerated proportions, and the use of open space. The sculptor’s diminutive portrayal of the king suggests his dependence on others, and his crown has been emphasized to evoke the spiritual power residing within it. The towering image of the king’s senior wife standing behind him underscores her superior status as a guardian of her husband’s interests, endowed with keen political understanding and supernatural knowledge. She would have placed the crown on the king’s head during his enthronement ceremony. The smaller figures at the king’s feet represent one of his junior wives and the flute-playing trickster god Eshu.

Status

On View, Gallery 137

Department

Arts of Africa

Artist

Olowe of Ise

Culture

Yoruba

Title

Veranda Post (Òpó Ògògá), Yoruba King and Wife

Places

Ikere (Object made in), Nigeria (Object made in), Africa (Object made in)

Date

1910-1914

Medium

Wood and pigment

Dimensions

152.5 × 31.8 × 40.6 cm (60 × 12 1/2 × 16 in.)

Credit Line

The Art Institute of Chicago, Major Acquisitions Centennial Fund

Reference Number

1984.550

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

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https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/102611/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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