Pair of Wood Carved Ibejii Figures in Cowrie Shell Coats

The Ibeji is the guardian of the soul of a dead twin. For this reason it is treated with the same caring care as the living twin. When, for example, the mother breast-feeds the living twin, the Ibeji is also positioned at the other breast; when the child is cleansed and washed, the Ibeji is washed in the same way and subsequently coated with a reddish mass, called Camwood, which is a mixture of crushed redwood and palm oil. The mother will take care of the Ibeji, wash them, feed them, look after them, carry them on her back at parties or visits to the family, and keep the statuettes near her bed during the first years.
 
The Estate of John and Hazel Hales-Biggers certify that the objects listed to be from the collection of African Art collected by the artist John T. Biggers during the last half of the 20th Century. each object comes with a signed and numbered Certificate of Authenticity from the estate.