BENIN, BRONZE OBJECTS, Nigeria
Old Benin bronzes are very rare. Despite their appearance, these are
all 20th C. pieces and were probably made to be sold.
The extraordinary bronzes of the Benin kingdom in what is now
Nigeria exhibit a virtuosity and sophistication of style that has astonished
the Western world since they were visited in the 15th Century. Their work
was brought to Europe following a punitive expedition by the British in
1897, causing a great sensation. The people of Benin, called Bini, are descended
from the Ife, also known for their remarkable bronzes. Almost all Benin
art was created to honor the king , or Oba, who has reigned, with
his ancestors, from the 15th century. Styles have changed over the years.
Although similar to many older works, these are all 20th C. pieces. Each
is still sculpted by hand, then cast in bronze by the lost wax process.
The varied objects on this page include two altar posts, each
of which is fitted in the middle of two halves. There are three pieces that
were placed on ancestral altars and two ceremonial swords, as seen held
by the Oba on many figures and plaques. The cocks were placed on altars
honoring past queen mothers.
