Twin Figure
| Culture | Yorùbá |
|---|---|
| Title | Twin Figure (Ere Ibeji) |
| Date | Unknown |
| Medium | Wood, shell, beads, metal, cowrie shells, and and fiber |
| Dimensions | Object: 10 13/16 × 4 1/16 × 2 1/2 in. (27.5 × 10.3 × 6.4 cm) Overall: 10 13/16 × 4 1/16 × 2 1/2 in. (27.5 × 10.3 × 6.4 cm) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Heinich, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 94.89 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A Yoruba twin figure commemorates a deceased twin, whose mother acquires the figure and cares for it by carrying, feeding, clothing, and washing it as she would a real baby. The spirits of twins are believed to have special powers, and by honoring the spirit of one that has died, a mother hopes to ensure prosperity for her family.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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Cite this page
"Twin Figure | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=94.89