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A carved wooden cup featuring a shallow bowl with a geometrically patterned rim. Two carved birds and curved outer pillars support the bowl, all resting on a flat, circular base with a visible crack.
Divination Cup (agere ifa)
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Divination Cup (agere ifa)

Maker Yoruba Artist
Date20th century
Place of originNigeria, Africa
MediumWood with pigment
Dimensions6 7/8 x 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. (17.5 x 19.1 x 19.1 cm)
ClassificationsFurnishings and Equipment
Credit LineGift of Rod McGalliard
Object number1995.28.45
Collections
Visual DescriptionA carved wooden cup featuring a shallow bowl with a geometrically patterned rim. Two carved birds and curved outer pillars support the bowl, all resting on a flat, circular base with a visible crack.
Carved caryatid support in the form of a kneeling maternity figure holding a child on her back; the child's head is turned to the side; mound base; hemispherical bowl carved on the rim with geometric design; dark patina.
Divination Cup (agere ifa) or (arugba ifa)
Yoruba Artist
20th century
Of circular form, with a finely carved perimeter relief band including "Inner Head," complex figures, birds and other devices, pigment, and a fine patina.
Divination Tray (opan ifa)
Yoruba Artist
20th century
Circular tray with carved relief around perimeter; various images: fish, crocodile, figure; pigment and patina.
Divination Tray (opon ifa)
Yoruba Artist
undated
carved with geometric forms; patina; with multi-colored beadwork sheath and upper covering; head, animal and geometric designs
Divination Tapper (iroke ifa)
Yoruba Artist
20th century
With carved geometric design, and surmounted by a kneeling figure.
Yoruba Ivory Divination Tapper (Iken ifa or iroke)
Yoruba Artist
20th Century
A round, carved wooden container with a lid, resting on a cutout base carved with figured. The surface of the lid features raised relief carvings of numerous human figures in various poses, including one on a bicycle.
Divination bowl (opon igede)
Yoruba Artist
20th century
Round disk with relief carving on slightly raised perimeter. A hollow circle carved in the back. 16 carvings consist of 4 faces at cardinal points, with figures between them that are flanked by concentric circles. Traces of white pigment and patina visible on carved edge; powdered substance on top.
Tray for Ifá Divination (opon Ifá)
Olowe of Ise
after 1938
Carved cylindrical wood cup with dark patina, flared rim, and pedestal with flared foot. Foot has crack that has been repaired. Handle has three horizontal curved rungs. Bottom has two bumps carved inside pedestal.
Cup
Chopi Artist
20th century
A carved dark wooden stool featuring a flat circular top and a matching round base. Several carved human figures serve as the vertical supports, standing upright with their arms raised to hold up the seat.
Stool
Dogon Artist
undated
A detailed black-and-white print of a cavernous architectural interior. Massive stone pillars, archways, and crisscrossing wooden beams fill the space. Multiple winding staircases with railings connect elevated platforms, where tiny human figures stand scattered throughout the complex structure.
Plate from the Carceri Series
Giovanni Battista Piranesi
1750
A scene featuring several people in a room with pillars. A man stands in the center and holds a small child in one arm and a sword in the other hand. Sitting beside them is an enthroned man in a robe. Two women, one kneeling and one gesturing, are in front on the enthroned man.
Le Judgement de Salomon (The Judgement of Solomon)
Marc Chagall
1956
A monochrome etching shows a woman in a patterned gown seated indoors, leaning back while holding a small bowl. A silhouette portrait hangs on the wall behind her, and a tall, decorative panel with circular motifs stands to her right.
Divination in Tea Leaves
Alfred Laurens Brennan
1879

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