Authentic Vintage Haitian Voodoo Spirit Libation Bottle For Loa Agwe
Item History & Price
From my private Haitian Art Collection:Vintage libation spirit bottle. 11" tall and 3" at the base. Probably from the 50's/60'sVery beautifully decorated piece with pearl stand attaching the cloth cork. Free Shipping in the Lower 48 states Agwe: (Agive) He is invoked under the names "Shell of the Sea, " "Eel, " and "Tadpole of the Pond." Sovereign of the sea. One of the many lovers of Erzulie. Under his jurisdiction come not only all the flora and fauna of th...e sea, but all ships which sail on the sea. His symbols are tiny boats, brightly painted oars and shells, and sometimes small metal fishes. He likes military uniforms and gunfire. He is the protector of seafaring men. The service for Agwe is quite different from others since it is on the sea itself.A conch shell is used to call him during a voodoo ritual.He must be greeted with wet sponges and towels when leaving the water because of the heat.A barque is prepared with all sort of Agwe's favorite foods, including champagne. This barque is then floated over where it is believed the sacred underwater world exists. If the barque sinks, then Agwe has accepted the sacrifice and will protect the water interests of those who have prepared the sacrifice. Were the barque to float back into shore, then the service has been refused and a different manner of placating Agwe would have to be devised. The animals that are sacrificed to him are two white sheep.Depicted as a mulatto with fair skin and green eyes. Services take place near seas, rivers, or lakes. Must be careful that those possessed do not jump into the water.Any reference to signaling can only come as a pleasure to this god.Agwe's counterpart is La Sirine, the sirin of the seas.In connection with Christianity, Agwe has borrowed traits from St. Ulrich, who is often pictured with a fish in his hand.This is an offering bottle that would be placed at a Haitian Vodou altar. Vodou is actually the name of a dance, but has come to be known as a reference to the religion. The altar is the pinnacle of a ceremony. Rural Vodou altars are adorned with a plethora of bottles containing fragrances to please the gods. These sacred perfumed waters are often homemade, as are most of the items on the altar. Beads, stones and dolls are used, as well as items specific to the spirit being called.
Vodou refers to the religion. The religion itself is known as "serving the spirits. Vodouists are monotheistic, meaning they believe in one god only. But there are spirits, called lwas that act as intermediaries of the one creator, similar to the way saints are portrayed in Catholicism. Lwas answer the inquiries of the people through ceremony.
