Lot 23 Dα

William Fagg writing about the present lot states: “This beautiful agere ifa might be from almost anywhere in Yorubaland, so well does it conform to the canons of Yoruba taste, but it is fortunate that it has two triangular processes above the temples of the mother which are unmistakable signs of her identity as a woman of the royal household of Owo. The hairdress of the child is probably also a sign of royal status. (A former Olowo of Owo in 1949 confided to the writer of these notes information about the practice of calling the children either “inside sons” or “outside sons” according to their legitimacy: it would appear that this one would not therefore attract the bend sinister to his escutcheon).”