Diviner’s Implement

Yoruba, Nigeria
19th–Early 20th c.

Provenance: Ben Heller collection, NYC
Richard Ulevitch, CA.
Michael Oliver, NYC
Private French collection

This object is a diviner’s prop used in ritual practice. It is a miniature version of an agere Ifá bowl. Finely carved from dense hardwood, this Yoruba figure depicts a kneeling female holding a bowl—a form traditionally associated with ritual offerings and Ifá divination. Known as agere Ifá, such larger-sized bowls were used to hold sacred items like kola nuts, cowrie shells, or palm nuts during ceremonies honoring the Orisha. The kneeling posture and calm expression convey humility and devotion, while the intricate coiffure, jewelry, and scarification marks reflect ideals of feminine beauty, virtue, and spiritual power. The figure bears a deep, dark patina and visible wear, testifying to its extended use in religious practice and its enduring role as a spiritually potent object.