1: A rectangular divination board, called ‘Opon Ifa’. The wide border is decorated with all-round elaborate reliefs: the head of the god Eshu is carved at the centre of the upper section according to tradition, to the left of it stands a human figure (a priest?), to the right a flying bird. A snake with cowrie shells is depicted on the lower edge. The remaining free lateral surfaces are decorated with entwined band motifs (or ‘endless knots’) in relief. The smooth surface at the centre of the ‘Opon Ifa’ is where the ‘Ifa oracle’ actually takes place. At the beginning of the ritual, the special priest or soothsayer (called ‘Babalawo’) knocks on the divination board with his pointer (the second item in the present mixed lot), in order to summon the right gods (‘Orunmila’). He then sprinkles white wood powder on the smooth surface of the board and throws sixteen cola nuts into the powder. Based on the position of the sixteen cola nuts, the Ifa priest ‘reads’ the answers (the ‘gods’) to the questions asked by supplicant, who sits in front of him. The priest then concludes the oracle by explaining his answers according to the positions of the nuts on the divination tray. To this end, he uses his pointer again. Dimensions: c. 38 cm x 40 cm; c. 3 cm thick.
2: A pointer (‘Iroke Ifa’) of a divination priest of the Yoruba. Made of carved ivory, with finely incised, all-round linear bands and hatchings on the lower half of the shaft, and with very old, already dark brown usage patina. Two age-related cracks to the lower section. L: 22.2 cm.
Both objects: Between the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. (ME) ASA

Provenance: Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.: 'Yoruba. Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought' by H. J. Drewal and J. Pemberton III., fig. 11, 12, 13 (board),112 (shaft).