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RE: OSHUN - THE GODDESS OF LOVE, BEAUTY, PLEASURE, FERTILITY AND FRESH WATER.
It was interesting to learn more about Oshun since I collect some African tribal art and have a beautiful Yoruba kneeling mother daughter statue. The Yoruba part being quite relevant to your post. Not too sure though if it's a fake piece since tribal art has been copied over the years due to the value. Whether it is or not, I think it's a beautiful piece of artwork :)
Kneeling down is sign of showing respect by a woman or girl to her husband or someone older. Yoruba culture believe any woman that didn't do that is not well trained and will be frowned at.
I don't know the piece you have but it may likely be yemoja or osun because they are both associated with children a lot. Yemoja is depicted as having a 'fish like' legs and very beautiful which is why we call an 'extremely' beautiful woman 'mammy water' (spirit from a big river) in our pidgin English.
Please keep that piece of artwork, even the fake ones are harder to get. You may have a real deal.
Thanks for the great response :) I'll be doing some posts in future relating to tribal art and some of my pieces I collected over the years. Yoruba, lega, chokwe etc. Love them so definitely won't be letting go any time soon. It really is amazing how, with minimal tools, such beautiful pieces are created. What I also love about African art is the depth and meaning that the pieces hold for the relevant cultures.
I love your passion for African culture and art.
Let me know if you ever need information about Yoruba culture. There are still old folks around with deep and authentic knowledge of Yoruba culture, history and art. They are better source than the internet.
Oh wow, that is very kind of you. Thank you :)
I think I only have the one Yoruba piece in my collection. Found it at a second hand dealer that bought it at an estate sale. It would be interesting to know a little more about it.
As you've mentioned the internet (even books) aren't the greatest of sources. I think the main problem is that there are so many diverse cultures that it's near impossible to get an expert in African tribal art.
You need experts in either Yoruba, Chokwe, Fang etc. since even by region, the artworks can be slightly different for the same tribe.
I've tried on various occasions to get someone to verify my pieces however the expertise just isn't available around here.