Description:

Prince Twins Seven Seven
Nigerian, (1944-2011)
Baptist Church of Bush Ghost, ca.1960s
etching
signed and titled lower margin.

Biography from Bonhams Bond Street: Prince Twins Seven-Seven was born in Ijara, northern Nigeria, to the royal family of Osuntoki in 1944. He changed his birthname, Olaniyi Osuntoki, to signify his status as the sole survivor of his parents' seven sets of twins. He believed he was an 'abiku', a 'child born to die'. In Yoruba culture, abiku are thought to possess special gifts as a result of their connection to the spirit world. The artist claimed that his creativity was one of these gifts:"When I started painting, I tried to bring out everything that is in my mind, and focus on the mythological thinking of my people...I used to hear voices. I would sing songs, but I don't know where they come from."

Prince Twins Seven-Seven turned to the visual arts when he encountered Ulli Beier's experimental school at Oshogbo in the 1960s. He began his artistic career with ink drawings on paper. The Lords Llamas on Mountain Top is characteristic of his work from the 1970s, when he began to work with oils on plywood. Prince's work frequently draws on mythological tales he heard as a child. His desire to revitalize Yoruba culture has led art historian, Henry Glassie, to refer to him as "the great modernist of the Yoruba tradition."

The present work depicts the stylized form of a llama against a backdrop swarming with colours and symbols. Animals in Yoruba culture often possess a symbolic meaning; spirits are traditionally characterized by a combination of bestial and humanoid features. The llama displays just such an amalgamation. The aesthetic is one of "distortion, dislocation and multiplicity".

Prince Twins Seven-Seven shot to international fame in 2005 when the President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, appointed him one of UNESCO's Artists for Peace.

  • Dimensions: 15"H x 12"W (sight), 20 1/4"H x 17 1/4"W (frame)
  • Medium: etching

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipping and removal are the sole responsibility of the buyer. Shipping is available by request through a third party shipping service, Shipping Saint. Please contact our office if you would like to arrange your own shipping. Buyers will not automatically receive a shipping invoice. You will be sent a separate invoice for shipping once your initial invoice is paid and your items are packed and ready to ship. Shipping is invoiced via Shipping Saint and cannot be combined with your auction invoice.
Shipping Saint can be contacted at [email protected] or via phone, 317-644-6088.
PICKUP: Pickup is by appointment only. Items are subject to storage fees if they are not removed from premises within 10 business days. If items require shipping, arrangements and removal must be completed within 15 business days.

August 30, 2025 11:00 AM EDT
Indianapolis, IN, US

Ripley Auctions

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $49 $5
$50 $99 $10
$100 $199 $20
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $200
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 + $2,500