2012.8 Ancestor figure of founder hero Owedjebo

This over life-size figure represents Owedjebo, a village founder and warrior of the Agbon clan. He assumes an aggressive pose with an intense gaze and an inflated chest; he holds a spear in one hand and a cutlass in the other (now missing). He is depicted wearing a warrior's bush pig tusk headband, a chest pendant, and leather belts with bells. Village founder imagery includes an imported top hat (a 19th century symbol of sociopolitical power) and indigenous prestige symbols—necklaces, heavy ivory bracelets, and anklets—carved in relief. He is displayed as he would be seen in the shrine.

Sculptures of Owedjebo, his family, and their attendants were originally placed in a shrine house that was painted a luminous white. As sacred objects, the sculptures were whitened and dressed in white cloths.

Roslyn A. Walker, Label text, Arts of Africa, 2015.

Before 1969: Edjo shrine of the Agbon Clan at Oghrerhe (Eherhe), Nigeria

1969-1972: Collected in situ

n.d.: William Rubin, New York

n.d.: Phyllis Hattis, New York

1985-2010: Dodie Rosekrans (d. 2010), San Francisco

2011: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation, purchased at auction, "Property from the Collection of Dodie Rosekrans", Sotheby's, New York, December 8, 2011, Lot No. 1 [1]

The main source for this provenance is the previously entered digital record. Exceptions and supporting documents have been noted.

[1] See the copy of the invoice dated December 8, 2011, in the Collections Records object file (2012.8).

Apply to objects where number equals 2012.8