Benin Bronze Head Birds on Crown Nigeria African Art

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Benin Bronze Head Birds on Crown Nigeria African Art:
$790.00

TitleBenin Bronze Head Birds on Crown Nigeria Africa Country of OriginNigeriaPeopleEdo people at BeninMaterialsBronze/BrassApproximate AgeLate 20thOther Dimensions11.5 inches H. x 9 inches DiamOverall ConditionPoor. Most ofour pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners. Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use. We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings. Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.Damage/RepairOxidation, cracks and holes in head, face , and neck/base, nose damaged with hole

Type of Object: Bronze Cast Sculpture

Additional Information: A brass or bronze piece in the form of a human head topped with cast birds. Each cheek is decorated with a leaf, probably an Akoko leaf, a sacred plant, known as a symbol of longevity. A number of such Benin heads are known dating to an early period of Yoruba history.

The famous royal center of Benin in Nigeria produced a number of remarkable objects and bronze heads cast in bronze including the original of this late replica that was also cast in Nigeria. Benin City was the center of power for the Edo people and the place of residence for the Oba, the ruler. This bronze cast head is of an Oba, a ruler at Benin, who still rules today. This head is based upon an early 18th century original and shows a stylized head with magical and symbolic motifs over its surface. Birds stand as part of a crown like headdress most likely representing vultures that are prominent in Benin mythology and religion. The head is a mixture of magical and symbolic motifs known in other examples of Benin art. That this is a replica cannot be doubted, but what is important to note is that the skill of the Nigerian bronze and brass casters of today who cast this head continue a tradition nearly 500 years old at Benin and have not lost their skill in producing interesting works of art.

Recommended Reading :

Augustus Pitt-Rivers, Antique Works of Art From Benin, 1900
Hagen, Dr. K., Altertumer von Benin, Jahrbuch der Hamburgischesen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten, V. XVII, 1900.
H. Ling Roth, Great Benin, Its Customs, Art and Horrors, 1903 (1968).
Dark, P. J. C., W. & B. Foreman, Benin Art,1960.
Dark, P. J.C., An Introduction to Benin Art and Technology, 1973.
Ben-Amos, P. The Art of Benin, 1980.
Freyer, B., Royal benin Art, 1987.
Ezra, K., Royal Art of benin, The Perls Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1992.
Duchateau, A., Benin, Royal Art of Africa from the Museum fur Volkerkunde, Vienna, 1994.

I have examined this piece and agree with the description
Niangi Batulukisi, PhD

**98216**

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