Youruba Ibej Woman carving

Part of my mother's estate. My siblings took one look at the $3 price tag on the bottom and discarded it as a fake. I believe it is not fake so I claimed it since they did not want it. The beads are glass the eyes are black glass. How old might this be assuming it is not a fake? 10" tall.

 

I'm afraid I do not see this as a fake.......
but..
there are so very many Ibeji's out there , singles and twins , that you may be in need of an African culture expert to drill down on the estimated age...

She's lovely !

 

I believe she is real as well. My parents had a set of twins in much better condition which one of my siblings took.

 

The patina looks like she may have been cared for like a traditional ibeji. The residue in the crevices may be camwood powder, used by the Yoruba for skin care.

https://smarthistory.org/ere-figures-yoruba-peoples/

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/311121