IGALA HORSE RIDERS

Igala horse-riding figures. Two human figures mounted on a horse. Evident facial features on the couple-like figures include flat earlobes, Nubian noses and close-set eyes. The female figure with an elaborate coiffure, has her hands on the shoulders of the male figure. The male figure would have been holding the reigns.

The Igala people occupy the dry savannah area of the middle belt region in Nigeria. Their landscape favours both hunting and agrarian activities.

Condition

Desiccation cracks can be seen on the item with wood loss around the legs of the human figures and the ears of the horse. The male figure is missing both arms, which would have been holding the missing reigns to the horse. Significant wood loss to the bottom of the right fore limb of the horse. Sculpture is pin mounted on a flat solid wood base.