Benin Altar Head
uhunnmu-ilaho
Origin: Edo People, Benin City, Nigeria
Age: 17th Century
Perhaps the most recognized of all Benin icons, bronze altar heads are the prominent features on Benin Altars. They were cast to honor and maintain the presence of predecessors. This practice reflects the Benin association of the head with being the seat of judgement, inteligence, character, as well as the source of the senses of taste, smell, sounds, sight and reasoning.
The head is synonymous with destiny (ehi) in Benin context.
This partifular head typifies the middle period in Benin art history (1552 - 1700), which marked the progression from highly naturalistic to the more sytlized, and eventually more ornamented, and flamboyant styles in the late period. Certainly a treasure for kings.
Private Collection - USA
Udo Head
Origin: Edo People, Udo, Nigeria
Age: 16th - 17th Century
Size: 10"
A metal bust with a rounded, naturalistic face, almond shaped eyes a broad nose and full lips, sropting a crown of coral beads in early Benin Kingdom layered wig style. The crown is acented with two spiked beads on the sides of the head, from which pairs of braided beads flow shoulder-length. The bust sports six ringed necklaces, and terminates on a round, rigid base. The rear of the bust features a long, rectangular cut-off, another major departure from the standard Benin casting style. Heavy red rust, green oxidation and other various patina.
The Udo bronze head remains a standout, not just for the departure from the better known styles in the corpus of Benin art, but also for its rarity. This is probably a direct result of the history that attends this genre of Benin altar heads.
Ife Bust
Origin: Wunmonije Compound, Ife, Nigeria, West Africa
Materials: Copper and other metal alloys.
Approximate Age: 14th – 15th Century (Middle period)
Overall Condition: Very good. Patina of age. A film of the trade mark red earth and grit residue, dust and extensive green oxidization of age. Random flash-cooling stress cracks. Left cheek is extensively corroded
Otherwise very good condition, considering age.
Benin Trophy Head
Origin: Edo peoples, Old Benin Kingdom, Nigeria, West Africa
Materials: Copper, other metal alloys
Approximate Age: 15th – 17th Century
Overall Condition: Very good. Patina of age. A film of the trade mark Benin red earth and grit residue, dust and oxidization of age. Extensive flash-cooling stress cracks on sides. Otherwise very good condition, considering age
Dimensions: 20.5cm
This very delicate, thin cast icon is a trophy head that belongs to a class of commemorative heads tracable to Oba Ozolua the Conqueror's reign (c. 1481 -1504). The genre of head with flat wig and whiskers, represent the heads of conquered kings replicated in bronze.
Private Collection - USA.
Queen Mothers Head
Approximate Age: Early 16th Century
Queen Idia, mother of Oba Esigie, king of Benin from 1504 to about 1550, played a key role in her son's military campaigns against the Igala people, which may have been over control of the Niger waterway. Benin finally won these wars and made the Igala king a vassal of the Oba.
Oba Esigie also fought an internal battle with his brother, Arhuaran, over the establishment of a capital city. Oba Esigie was based in the capital, Benin City, but Arhuaran sought to establish another large important city, Udo, as the main centre. Brass casters of Benin relocated to Udo to work, until Oba Esigie won the war and reversed that trend.
