Superb pair of wooden statues from the Montol ethnic group in Nigeria

Heights: 60 & 63 cm, age cracks (see photos)

The Montol people

Living on the right bank of the Benue River, in eastern Nigeria, the Montol share this region and common artistic conventions with their neighbors Mumuyé, Chamba, Jukun or Wurkun.

Montol art

The Montol statues, always rustic in design, are recognizable by their spread legs and outstretched hands. They express both power and constraint, particularly in the posture of the limbs.

They were used in divination rites and healing ceremonies by members of the Komtin secret society. They therefore had an essentially therapeutic function and were used to cure ailments of the body and mind.