Monumental Yoruba Wooden Offering Bowl Sculpture – 134cm
$8,500.00
Monumental Yoruba Wooden Offering Bowl Sculpture – 134cm
A rare, hand-carved Yoruba offering bowl from Nigeria, standing an impressive 134cm tall. Traditionally used for sacred offerings in Yoruba spiritual practice, this multi-figure sculpture carries powerful cultural symbolism and presence. A statement museum-level piece for elevated interiors.
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Description
Monumental Yoruba Wooden Offering Bowl Sculpture – 134cm
This extraordinary Yoruba Wooden Offering Bowl is a monumental example of West African craftsmanship and spiritual tradition. Standing 134cm high, it features a beautifully carved multi-figure composition: a symbolic bird perched atop the ceremonial bowl, supported by a kneeling female figure, all resting upon a stylised ancestral face.
In Yoruba culture, offering bowls (agere or ritual vessels) were used to present gifts, herbs, kola nuts, and sacred items during divination ceremonies. The bird represents spiritual communication, while the female figure signifies nurturing, guidance, and protection.
Carved from a single block of wood using traditional tools and natural pigments, this piece carries weight, age, and cultural significance. Its scale and complexity make it exceptionally rare — a true centrepiece for collectors, designers, and lovers of African artistry.
Perfect for display in a gallery niche, entryway, or architectural recess, where its height and sculptural form become a commanding presence in the room.
Features
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Height: 134 cm (1.34 m)
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Hand-carved from solid hardwood
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Traditional Yoruba ceremonial vessel
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Multi-figure symbolic composition
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Matte aged finish with natural pigment accents
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One-of-a-kind vintage piece
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Ideal for galleries, architectural niches, and statement interiors
Cultural Note
Among the Yoruba of Nigeria, offering bowls were central to divination rituals and ancestral connection. They held sacred items used to communicate with Orisha (deities) and ancestors. Carvings of birds, mothers, twins, and ancestors symbolised protection, transformation, and the link between the physical and spiritual worlds. Pieces of this size were typically found in shrines or the homes of spiritual leaders.
Pairings
Pairs beautifully with Yoruba shrine vessels, large Baga headdress masks, architectural Moroccan lanterns for height balance, and Southern African wall masks to anchor the niche area.
