Old Fine Pair of Ibibio Dolls – Mbopo – Nigeria

A fine pair of carved wooden Ibibio dolls. Taller figure: 22.5 cm (8.86 in). Smaller figure: 19.6 cm (7.72 in). The surfaces show a warm, naturally aged patina with visible handling wear, consistent with age and use.

A well-matched pair, characterized by elegant, elongated forms and refined stylization. The figures display serene, symmetrical facial features with half-closed eyes, delicately incised details, and traces of black pigment highlighting the coiffure, facial markings, and geometric body decoration.

Among the Ibibio of southeastern Nigeria, such figures are often associated with concepts of beauty, identity, and social values. Dolls of this type may have been used as personal objects, possibly linked to ideals of femininity, fertility, or moral conduct. The careful rendering of coiffure, facial scarification, and body decoration reflects culturally valued attributes and aesthetic canons within Ibibio society.

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