Opon Ifá (Divination Tray)
Artist
Yorùbá artist
Datelate 19th century
Associated withAfrica
MediumWood
Dimensionsdiameter: 18 in. (45.7 cm)
ClassificationsWood
Credit LineGift of Rhonda Morgan Wilkerson, PhD
Object number2024.22.2
DescriptionFrom Scott Rodolitz's 2024 appraisal: Of classical form, the divination tray of wood with black inner surface and raised band with elaborate carving at the perimeter. The center of the upper portion of the perimeter band with large stylized face flanked by hunters or warriors on either side, then additional faces, then at either side figures carved in high relief depicting devotees or priests of the Orisha Eshu. The bottommost portion depicting on the right side a priest of Eshu and on the left side a coiled snake and a quadruped, possibly a dog. Fine old surface, possibly from Igbomina.
On View
On view[1] After Roger de la Burde died in 1992, his estate was passed on to his three daughters. In 1994, his estate worked with Motley’s Auctions to sell some of de la Burde’s African art pieces. According to Charles Jones, owner of Charles Jones African Art, other pieces from de la Burde’s African art collection were put in storage. In 2007, he was contacted by Corinna M. Pugh, de la Burde’s daughter, who was looking to sell the African artworks in storage. Shortly after, Jones contacted Rhonda Morgan Wilkerson to buy pieces from the de la Burde collection.
Exhibition HistoryRaleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection, Reimagined," October 7, 2022–present.
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