Marriage Chains
Yoruba · Nigeria
Reference: VAR-8
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- Height
- 85 cm
- Material
- Wood
Chain formed by a bonding of links and rings made in a single piece of hard wood. the solidity of the union of the links symbolizes…
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Full original description
Chain formed by a bonding of links and rings made in a single piece of hard wood. the solidity of the union of the links symbolizes the solidity of marriage. But this solidity can be broken and if the chain breaks, the marriage breaks. The chain is lined with the figures of a man and a woman and the links are the children of the same mother who unite the members of the family. These chains have their origin in the Edan, metal figures of Ogboni society, who represent a single person despite being a couple, because it is that single person and his double of the opposite sex. This duality in the Yoruba social structure assumes that the male element is symbolically completed by the female element.
These figures, like the Edams, are presented as a symbol of humility, submission and respect.
Further technical information
- Attributed period
- Mid-century XX
Details transcribed from the original catalogue; they are not a recent physical inspection.
Country on the map
Nigeria. The country associated with the catalog is shown, not the current location of the piece.
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Attributions, dates and accounts come from the preserved catalogue. They do not constitute certification of authenticity or provenance. An object’s presence on this website does not mean it is available for sale.
