Big memorial head of an "oba"
Edith Hafter, Solothurn, Switzerland
Description
heavy wood, partly covered with metal sheet, remains of pigments, schematized facial features, chin and neck veiled by a broad collar, cap with wing-shaped projection on top, cavity on the back, min. dam., missing parts through insect caused damage, cracks, slight traces of corrosion;
the people of Benin believed that the head of a deceased guides man through life and represents a guarantor for prosperity and well-being of the whole community. The head is the place for thinking, judging, hearing, seeing, speaking and of life as a whole. The kings heads shows common, non-individual facial features, serving as a representation of power and wealth. Versions of terracotta and wood were displayed on ancestor shrines of chiefs and bronze casters, while the heads made of brass were reserved for kings.