Male Figure

Early-mid 20th century

Ijo
Nigeria
Coastal West Africa

Though the Ijo describe forest spirits as hideous and volatile, in sculpture they are rendered as invincible warriors with wide-eyed stares and bare teeth. This elongated figure may have held a weapon in its missing hand. A large medicine gourd hangs from his neck. The white and red pigments applied to its surface symbolize the contrast of coolness and aggression, respectively. Such spirit figures were placed on altars dedicated to clan war gods where rituals were performed.

Status: On View, Gallery 137
Department: Arts of Africa

Culture: Ijo
Title: Male Figure
Place: Nigeria (Object made in)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: 1901–1975
Medium: Wood, chalk, and pigment
Dimensions: 153.7 × 24.1 × 19.1 cm (60 1/2 × 9 1/2 × 7 1/2 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of Richard Faletti, the Faletti Family Collection
Reference Number: 2000.321

Mary Nooter Roberts and Allen F. Roberts. 1997. A Sense of Wonder: African Art from the Faletti Family Collection, exh. cat. Phoenix: Phoenix Art Museum, pp. 21, 98-99; fig. 10; cat. 42 (ill.).
Martha G. Anderson and Philip M. Peek, eds. 2002. Ways of the Rivers: Arts and Environment of the Niger Delt, exh. cat. UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, exh. cat., figure 3.10 a,b.
Constantine Petridis et al., Speaking of Objects: African Art at the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 2020), cat. no. 17, pp. 60-67 (ill.).

Phoenix Art Museum, A Sense of Wonder: African Art from the Faletti Family Collection, Dec. 13, 1997-Feb. 8, 1998, cat. 42; traveled to Chicago, The David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, May 14-June 28, 1998, Urbana-Champaign, Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sept. 18-Nov. 1, 1998, New York, N.Y., The Museum for African Art, Jan. 29-March 28, 1999, Davenport Museum of Art, Apr.18-June 13, 1999, New Brunswick, N.J., Rutgers University, The Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, Sept. 12-Nov. 24, 1999, and The Boise Art Museum, Feb. 26-May 7, 2000.
Los Angeles, Calif., UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, Ways of the River: Arts and Environment of Niger Delta, May 19-Nov. 17, 2002, cat. 3.10 a, b; traveled to Chicago, Ill., The Field Museum of Natural History, May 22-Sept. 7, 2002, Buffalo, N.Y., Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Oct. 10, 2002-Jan. 10, 2003, Purchase, N.Y., Neuberger Museum of Art, SUNY, Feb. 10-May 10, 2004.

Robertson African Arts, New York, N.Y., by 1990 [this and the following according to object inventory card of R. Faletti, copy in curatorial file]; sold to Richard J. Faletti (died 2006) and Barbara Faletti (died 2000), Chicago, Ill. and Phoenix, Ariz., March 11, 1990; given to the Art Institute, 2000.

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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Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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